Chelsea are hopeful that Cole Palmer will make a swift return to action despite sending the attacker for a second scan on a hamstring injury.
Palmer sat out his side’s defeat by Arsenal last Sunday and further checks are being made after he went for a scan earlier this week. Chelsea are treating the injury with caution and want to ensure they have not missed any hidden damage.
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There is optimism that the second scan is precautionary and will not show that Palmer, who will be key to the Chelsea’s push for Champions League qualification, has done anything serious. The club hope Palmer is not in the same position as Nicolas Jackson, who was ruled out until after the international break when he tweaked a hamstring in February. It had seemed the striker’s complaint was minor only for scans to show otherwise.
Hamstring injuries have been an issue for Enzo Maresca’s side this season, particularly in attack. The England winger Noni Madueke and the Spanish striker Marc Guiu have been out since last month. The midfielder Roméo Lavia and the defender Wesley Fofana have just returned from hamstring problems but the teenage attacker Omari Kellyman is out for the season.
Maresca has argued his side’s issues in attack are down to injuries. Palmer, Jackson and Madueke have delivered a large proportion of Chelsea’s goals this season and were all unavailable against Arsenal.
The positive for Maresca is that Chelsea do not play again until they host Tottenham in the league on 3 April, giving them time to work Palmer back to fitness.
A short break could be good for Palmer, who has been unable to report for England duty. Chelsea are heavily reliant on the 22-year-old but he has looked tired in recent weeks and has gone 10 games without a goal.
