Chelsea Confirm Cole Palmer Injury Blow Ahead of Fulham Clash

Chelsea have confirmed that Cole Palmer will miss Saturday’s clash against Fulham at Stamford Bridge. The 23-year-old suffered a groin injury during the warm-up before last Friday’s 5-1 win over West Ham and has not returned to training since.

Head coach Enzo Maresca ended speculation during his pre-match press conference:
“Cole is out. Benoit is out, and Romeo is out. The rest are okay. Cole we need to see day by day, and the other two I don’t think will be back after the international break, but they will be closer.”

Alongside Palmer, defender Benoit Badiashile and midfielder Romeo Lavia will also miss the derby, leaving Chelsea short in key areas.

Extent of Palmer’s Injury

Palmer underwent a scan on his groin earlier this week, which revealed the issue is not as severe as initially feared. However, medical staff have advised caution, ruling him out until after the international break.

Enzo Maresca confirms Cole Palmer is OUT for Chelsea's Gameweek 3 fixture against Fulham! ❌ pic.twitter.com/HFazlaq5eX

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The injury already forced him to withdraw from the England squad for their World Cup qualifiers against Andorra and Serbia. England boss Thomas Tuchel decided against including him after consulting with Maresca. The Chelsea coach confirmed:
“I spoke with Thomas a few times, but in the end it was his decision. Cole is not available tomorrow, so it shows he has some problem.”

Replacing Palmer in the Line-Up

Without Palmer, Chelsea will likely stick with the same front line that faced West Ham. Estevao Willian replaced him on the night and impressed, playing behind Liam Delap with Joao Pedro also in attack.

Maresca acknowledged the difference Palmer makes but insisted the squad has solutions:
“For sure, we are a much better team with Cole. But when Cole is not in the game, we need to find different solutions. Last week we found them, and hopefully tomorrow we can again.”

Estevao’s performance has given fans some encouragement, though Palmer’s creativity and experience remain irreplaceable.

Other Absentees: Lavia and Badiashile

Midfielder Romeo Lavia and defender Benoit Badiashile continue their recovery and will also sit out the derby. Both have struggled with injuries across the past year, and Maresca suggested their return will be managed carefully.

“With Romeo and Benoit, it’s normal after a long time out that they need sessions and minutes. It’s the same we did with Wesley Fofana. Hopefully when they are back, they can be fit for a long time.”

Chelsea must once again adjust their defensive and midfield balance without these two options.

Looking Beyond Fulham

The derby against Fulham comes just before the September international break, giving Chelsea two weeks to regroup. Palmer is expected to return for the Premier League trip to Brentford on September 13 if his recovery continues smoothly.

The timing is important, as Chelsea face a demanding run. Their Champions League campaign begins after the Brentford match, with Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and Benfica among their group stage opponents.

Maresca admitted the draw was challenging but welcomed the test:
“We are happy to be in the draw. It is always difficult, but it is nice to be there.”

What It Means for Chelsea

Palmer’s absence is a setback, but Chelsea showed against West Ham that they can still score freely without him. The responsibility now shifts to Estevao, Delap, and Pedro to maintain that attacking spark.

For Fulham, Palmer’s absence removes Chelsea’s most consistent attacking threat, but Marco Silva’s side will still have to deal with a confident Chelsea team coming off a dominant away win.

Chelsea’s medical team will monitor Palmer daily, but the club is prioritising his long-term fitness. With high-stakes fixtures ahead, they cannot afford to risk their key forward too soon.