Palmer handed injury update as worst-case Chelsea absence revealed

Cole Palmer has missed Chelsea’s last two matches with a groin injury and is not expected to take to the pitch any time soon in what could turn into a nightmare scenario for the Blues

Cole Palmer has been warned that he could miss as much as THREE MONTHS of action if he had surgery on his groin injury. The England star has missed Chelsea’s last two games against both Brighton and Benfica.

Blues boss Enzo Maresca has suggested that the issue should not keep him sidelined for very long, with Palmer expected to return after the international break. But 23-year-old Palmer has been told that he could actually be ruled out for the rest of the year if he went under the knife.

Injury expert Ben Dinnery suggests that the forward would miss three months of action should it be decided that he needs to undergo surgery.

Speaking to Esports Bets, he said: “Cole Palmer has been struggling with an ongoing groin injury and there will certainly be discussions within Chelsea with regards to the best course of action to take and how best to manage him.

“Behind the scenes they’ll be weighing up whether it is best just to have him out for two to three weeks, see how he responds to that and bring him back after the next international break, as opposed to going straight to surgery and potentially ruling him out for three months.

“Given how valuable he is to that Chelsea team, what’s another couple of weeks if they can have him back in the squad by the end of October? If you go under the knife, that could be the end of his 2025.”

Palmer, 23, had started the season in fine form for Chelsea, having scored two goals across his opening four appearances in all competitions.

On his injury, Maresca said: "We decided to protect a little bit Cole in terms of it not getting worse, the injury.

“We decided to rest him for the next two or three weeks until the international break. We’ll see with that rest whether he can be 100 per cent fit after the international break."

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The Chelsea boss added: "I don’t think he needs surgery. It’s just a matter to manage his pain in his groin. With this amount of games, these things can happen.”

Palmer’s absence now gives the Chelsea boss a decision to make when it comes to this weekend’s game vs Liverpool.

Facundo Buonanotte and Alejandro Garnacho could both be called into the side - the latter having been key in the Blues’ 1-0 win against Benfica in the Champions League.