Why isn’t Cole Palmer playing for Chelsea against Gent in the Conference League?

The England star has continued his incredible 2023/24 form into the new campaign but isn’t eligible to feature on Thursday.

Chelsea take on Gent in Europa Conference League on Thursday, beginning their league phase journey in the new-look tournament.

The Blues will be expected to go deep in the competition and are the runaway favourites to lift the trophy at Wroclaw Stadium, Poland next May. But if they are to get their campaign underway with a win they will have to do so without the talismanic presence of Cole Palmer, who is not eligible to feature against Gent.

In fact, Palmer will not be able to play any part in the first round of the Europa Conference League having been omitted from Chelsea’s squad for the competition.

The Blues only managed to secure qualification for European soccer’s third-tier continental club competition after a poor 2023/24 campaign. Palmer was one of few bright spots last season, winning the club’s Player of the Year Award and receiving a call-up for England’s Euro 2024 squad.

Alongside Palmer, the likes of Romeo Lavia and Wesley Fofana are also not included in the UECL squad for Chelsea.

Can Chelsea add Cole Palmer to Conference League squad?

New Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca opted not to include Palmer in the club’s 27-man squad for the group stage of the UEFA Conference League. The Blues should have no problems progressing to the knockout stages and the group stage games will give them much-needed opportunity to rotate their bulging squad.

The 22-year-old is one of the first names on the team sheet for the Blues but they have a vast squad and this UEFA competition offers the chance to give fringe players much-needed playing time. Assuming that they progress, Maresca will be able to add Palmer and others ahead of the knockout games.

Teams are given the opportunity to make three changes to their squads ahead of the deadline on February 6, 2025. Palmer looks likely to return to the team at that stage and Chelsea will hope that his quality came help bring silverware back to Stamford Bridge after a frustrating few years since the departure of Thomas Tuchel.