Cole Palmer Injury: Maresca’s Brentford Return Decision Revealed

Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has confirmed that Cole Palmer will undergo a late fitness test ahead of Chelsea’s Premier League clash against Brentford this Saturday. The spotlight is on whether the rising star can return after a groin injury that has kept him out of recent matches.

Injury Details & England Withdrawal

Palmer has been sidelined for the past two fixtures with Chelsea due to a groin problem. The injury also forced him to pull out of international duty with England. Recently, photos from training hinted at his potential return, and an Instagram post saying “soon back” stirred rumours of his availability.

Maresca’s Assessment & the Late Test

In the pre-match press conference, Maresca revealed: “Cole took part in the session yesterday for the first time, not the entire session. We have one more session this afternoon and we are going to try with him to see if he’s OK, otherwise he will be out tomorrow.” This confirms a final decision will be made only after assessing his ability this afternoon.

Maresca emphasized that Palmer’s issue is not one of management, but of actual recovery: “He is recovering from an injury … when he is available, we need to manage him because of the amount of games.” Key for Chelsea, given their tight fixture schedule.

Other Injury News at Chelsea

Alongside Palmer, striker Liam Delap faces a 10-12 week absence following a hamstring injury, though surgery wasn’t required. Maresca noted the club can rely on backups like Marc Guiu, João Pedro, and even young Tyrique George in the forward line. Meanwhile, left-back Levi Colwill remains out with an ACL injury, and goalkeeper/teen signing Dário Essugo has had surgery and could miss a large part of the season.

Concerns Over South American Contingent

Chelsea also has fitness concerns among its South American players. Moisés Caicedo has returned late from Ecuador duty and needs to pass a fitness test. There are question marks over Brazilians João Pedro, Andrey Santos, and Estêvão following a taxing match in Bolivia earlier this week.

What This Means for Tomorrow’s Premier League Clash

If fit, Palmer could reclaim his role in Chelsea’s attacking setup vs Brentford, injecting pace and creativity. However, if Maresca rules him out, the club must adapt quickly — possibly with João Pedro up front or re-deploying existing forwards. Key trending keywords around this situation include “Cole Palmer return date”, “Chelsea injury update”, “Maresca press conference”, “Premier League fitness news”, and “Chelsea vs Brentford lineup”.