Chelsea’s Cole Palmer will be out for six more weeks with a persistent groin injury. 

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has confirmed that Cole Palmer will be sidelined for six more weeks due to a groin injury. The 23-year-old forward has been struggling with the issue since pre-season and hasn’t played a competitive match since September 20.

Palmer’s absence is a significant blow for Chelsea, who were hoping to have him back in action after the international break. Maresca had initially thought Palmer would be fit by now, but it’s clear the injury is more persistent than expected.

The groin injury first emerged during Chelsea’s pre-season, and Palmer has made just three Premier League appearances this season. His absence will be deeply felt, especially in key matches against top teams.

Maresca is confident Palmer won’t need surgery, but the medical team is taking a cautious approach to ensure he’s fully fit when he returns. “We try to protect Cole as much as we can,” Maresca said.

Palmer’s six-week absence will see him miss crucial Premier League matches against Sunderland, Tottenham Hotspur, Burnley, and Arsenal, as well as Champions League games against Ajax, Qarabag, and Barcelona.

The injury is also a concern for England manager Thomas Tuchel, who will be looking for Palmer to impress in the run-up to next summer’s World Cup. Palmer scored 15 Premier League goals last season and is a key player for both Chelsea and England.

Maresca praised Palmer’s importance to the team, saying, “To replace Cole is difficult, because Cole is a very important player for us – probably one of the best players in the Premier League.”

Palmer is now expected to return around mid-November.