Chelsea and England forward Cole Palmer will be sidelined for the next three matches following a fractured toe, coach Enzo Maresca confirmed on Friday. The 23-year-old, who had only just returned to training after a two-month absence with a groin injury, suffered the setback at home after reportedly stubbing his toe on a door.
Palmer will miss Chelsea’s Premier League trip to Burnley on Saturday, the Champions League clash against Barcelona on Tuesday, and the weekend league match against leaders Arsenal.
“He is not available for tomorrow, Barcelona, or Arsenal,” Maresca said. “It was an unfortunate accident at home. It’s nothing serious, but he won’t be back within the next week.”
Palmer has already made a strong impression this season, scoring twice in Chelsea’s Club World Cup final victory over Paris Saint-Germain in July. With the World Cup approaching next year, the forward is expected to play a key role for England, making his absence a notable setback for both club and country.
