Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has cast doubt on Cole Palmer’s availability for England’s upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Albania and Latvia due to a muscular issue. The midfielder sustained the injury during a training session, forcing him to miss Chelsea’s 1-0 loss to Arsenal on Sunday. It marked the first time the Blues played without him since April last year, when they suffered a heavy defeat against the Gunners.
Maresca expressed skepticism about Palmer joining Thomas Tuchel’s England squad. “I don’t think he will be ready, to be honest,” he admitted following the Arsenal match. “The injury happened in yesterday’s session. It’s a muscular problem… He needs a scan, which is scheduled for Monday morning.”
Chelsea Feel the Absence of Key Players
Palmer was not the only notable absentee for Chelsea, as both Nicolas Jackson and Noni Madueke also missed the clash at the Emirates. Maresca acknowledged the impact of missing three key attacking players. “It makes a big difference,” he said. “The three players who have scored the most goals for us—Palmer, Jackson, and Madueke—were all unavailable.”
With Jackson and Madueke already sidelined for an extended period, Chelsea struggled to pose an attacking threat. “Even so, we are still among the top attacking teams in the league, but we would be more effective with those players on the pitch,” Maresca added.
A Possible Silver Lining for Palmer
Despite Palmer’s importance to Chelsea’s attack—having contributed to 20 of their 53 league goals this season—his form has dipped, with no goals in his last seven Premier League appearances. Maresca believes this enforced break could be beneficial.
“We never want a player to get injured, but in Cole’s case, this may allow him to recover both physically and mentally,” he suggested.
England’s new manager Thomas Tuchel will lead the team against Albania on Friday before facing Latvia at Wembley as they begin their qualification campaign for the 2026 World Cup.
