Chelsea’s coach, Enzo Maresca, has confirmed that there are no immediate plans for Cole Palmer to undergo surgery after the forward was forced off the pitch in Chelsea’s recent 2-1 loss to Manchester United.
The 23-year-old England international had made just two Premier League starts this season and was substituted after only 21 minutes at Old Trafford due to a groin injury that has been troubling him.
Maresca addressed concerns over Palmer’s injury in a press briefing, stating, “The medical staff didn’t mention surgery to me. I don’t know what will happen in the coming days or weeks, but I don’t think surgery is necessary, honestly.”
Palmer, who had pushed himself to play despite not being fully fit, left the field in visible discomfort. Maresca explained that Palmer had undergone a test before the match and was deemed fit to play, but the injury proved too painful during the game.
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“He made a huge effort to be there for his teammates, but it was painful, so we decided to make the change. It’s a day-by-day, week-by-week situation,” Maresca added.
Looking ahead, Palmer is expected to miss Chelsea’s League Cup third-round match against third-tier Lincoln City, with other injured players like Romeo Lavia and Benoit Badiashile also unavailable.
Maresca acknowledged the risk of playing academy players in the match, warning of the potential for an upset, “These are the games that worry me most, because you can slip up very easily.”
