Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has explained why Cole Palmer was not in the matchday squad to face Arsenal over the weekend.
Chelsea fell to a 1-0 defeat at the Emirates with Palmer a notable absentee and Maresca has revealed that the 22-year-old picked up a slight niggle in training a day before the clash with the Gunners.
Referencing Palmer having to go off against Leicester after suffering from the squits last weekend, Maresca said of the midfielder’s whereabouts: “He’s not in the toilet, for sure. Ha ha ha!
“No, he had as we know last week’s problems, and yesterday he had a minimal (injury) problem, and we think that he can be back with us after the international break.
“He had an injury yesterday during a session. It was a very light session which is why we think it’s nothing important, but he needs still to wait. The feeling is he can be back after the international break.”
That prognosis could cast doubt over Palmer’s ability to be involved for his country over the next couple of weeks – but nothing has yet been confirmed either way.
This, after the 22-year-old was named as part of new England boss Thomas Tuchel’s 26-man squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Albania and Latvia.
Palmer was included in Tuchel’s plans despite a loss of form for Chelsea over the past couple of months, with Palmer unable to produce a goal or assist in his past seven Premier League outings.
Tuchel named his England squad on Friday, bringing Jordan Henderson and Marcus Rashford back into the fold as well as calling up Arsenal youngster Myles Lewis-Skelly and Newcastle center-back Dan Burn.
