Palmer, 23, has been ruled out of Chelsea’s next three fixtures – against Brighton and Liverpool in the Premier League, and Benfica in the Champions League – due to a groin problem.
Head coach Maresca confirmed on Friday (26.09.25) Tosin Adarabioyo is also unavailable with a calf injury, while Wesley Fofana is out after suffering concussion symptoms following an accidental clash with goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen during the Carabao Cup tie against Lincoln.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference, Maresca said: “We have decided to protect Cole in terms of him not getting a worse injury. Just to see if with rest he can be able to recover 100 per cent and be completely fit after the international break.
“I don’t think he needs surgery. It’s just a matter of managing his pain and his groin. The amount of games is something that can happen so this is the reason why we try to be conservative with him, to give him rest and hopefully he can be 100 per cent fit after the international break.”
Chelsea’s injury list already includes Levi Colwill, Liam Delap and Dario Essugo.
Maresca said it remains unclear whether Romeo Lavia or Benoît Badiashile will be fit to face Brighton. Marc Guiu also missed the trip to Lincoln, while Josh Acheampong and João Pedro have only just returned to training after illness and injury respectively.
Facundo Buonanotte is unavailable to feature against his parent club Brighton, removing another option in the attacking midfield role Palmer has made his own.
Maresca suggested that, despite Chelsea’s shortage of defenders, Axel Disasi, who is currently training away from the first-team group, is unlikely to be recalled.
Maresca linked the club’s spate of injuries to their recent Club World Cup campaign in the United States, where Chelsea beat Paris Saint-Germain in the final.
Palmer was instrumental in that victory but has since struggled with fitness, limping out of defeats to Manchester United and Bayern Munich, and withdrawing during the warm-up at West Ham.
Palmer has agreed with Chelsea’s medical staff to rest rather than undergo surgery, but the injury is expected to rule him out of Thomas Tuchel’s England squad for next month’s international fixtures.
