Enzo Maresca confirmed that Cole Palmer is unlikely to join England for the World Cup qualifiers due to a “muscular injury.”
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Cole sustains muscular injury
Palmer’s injury will require a scan on Monday.
The 22-year-old missed Sunday’s 1-0 defeat at Arsenal after sustaining the injury in training the day before the match.
However, Palmter has not yet formally withdrawn from Thomas Tuchel’s first England squad ahead of matches against Albania and Latvia at Wembley.
When asked if Palmer will be available for England, Maresca said: “I don’t think so, to be honest.
“His injury was from yesterday’s session — it’s a muscle problem, so I don’t think so.”
“He needs a scan and the scan is planned for tomorrow [Monday].”
Chelsea hope Palmer will return for their first game after the international break against Tottenham.
Despite the injury, Maresca believes that the striker’s absence could be a positive after a run of 10 games without a goal dating back to January 14.
“We don’t wish players injured but in Cole’s case, in this moment, it will give him some rest physically and mentally,” he said.
“It could be good.”
Who will replace Palmer?
Meanwhile, England has called up Nottingham Forest midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White as a potential replacement for Palmer.
Gibbs-White has played a key role in Forest’s Champions League push, contributing five goals and seven assists in the Premier League this season.
Additionally, Gibbs-White has earned two caps since making his debut in September and was part of England’s Under-21 Euro-winning squad in 2023.
