Chelsea Injury Crisis Deepens As Cole Palmer, 2 Others Ruled Out Ahead of Brighton Clash
- Cole Palmer has been ruled out for two to three weeks with a groin injury, Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has confirmed
- Defenders Wesley Fofana and Tosin Adarabioyo are also sidelined until after the international break for the Blues
- Chelsea faces Brighton, Benfica, and Liverpool in three crucial matches that could shape their season
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Chelsea’s preparations for a crucial run of games have taken a hit after head coach Enzo Maresca confirmed three key players will miss action until after the international break.
Cole Palmer, Wesley Fofana, and Tosin Adarabioyo have all been sidelined with injuries, leaving the Blues stretched ahead of three crucial games.
Source: Getty Images
Palmer set for three-week injury layoff
Palmer’s absence will be the biggest blow for Chelsea and Maresca.
The England forward was substituted just 21 minutes into last weekend’s clash with Manchester United, and Maresca revealed that last season’s top striker for the Blues is dealing with a groin problem, Sky Sports reports.
“We decided to protect Cole so it doesn’t get worse,” Maresca said.
“We will rest him for the next two or three weeks until the international break, to see if the rest means he can recover 100 per cent. It’s just managing the pain in his groin.”
Palmer will now miss Chelsea’s league meeting with Brighton, their Europa clash with Benfica, managed by former Blues boss Jose Mourinho, and a massive Premier League game against Liverpool.
Fofana and Tosin join injury list
Palmer won’t be the only absentee as defender Wesley Fofana will sit out the next 12 days after suffering concussion symptoms from a collision with his own goalkeeper, Filip Jorgensen.
The Frenchman will miss the same three matches as Palmer and is expected to return after the break.
Meanwhile, Nigeria-eligible defender Tosin Adarabioyo has picked up a calf injury and faces a similar timeline, per BBC.
Maresca confirmed that the centre-back will be unavailable until the international fixtures are completed.
This leaves Chelsea light at the back and in attack during a run that could shape their season.
A big week ahead for Maresca’s Chelsea
The timing could hardly be worse as Chelsea have endured a tough stretch, dropping points to Brentford and Manchester United and suffering a setback in Europe against Bayern Munich.
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Their only relief came in the League Cup against Lincoln City, and even that win required a comeback after conceding early.
Brighton are next on the fixture list for Chelsea, followed by Mourinho’s return to Stamford Bridge with Benfica. Then comes Liverpool in a clash that could be key for the Blues’ top-four hopes.
With Palmer, Fofana, and Tosin missing, Maresca will have to shuffle his pack and rely on depth players to deliver.
The next two weeks could define whether Chelsea stays in touch with the top of the table or risks slipping further behind.
Chelsea identifies manager to replace Maresca
In another development, Legit.ng reported that Chelsea will look towards another Premier League manager in case Enzo Maresca is sacked, even though the club has no plans to let their manager go.
He led Chelsea to win the UEFA Europa Conference League, beating Real Betis in the final, and the FIFA Club World Cup, beating Paris Saint-Germain in the final.
Source: Legit.ng
