Chelsea forward Cole Palmer seemed to be carrying an injury when he left the pitch after the 2-0 win over Servette on Thursday night.

The 22-year-old had only come on as a substitute just before the hour mark but it appears that he picked up some sort of thigh problem. Speaking after the game midweek, head coach Enzo Maresca played down the seriousness of the issue and he said that it shouldn’t stop Palmer from playing against Wolves this weekend:

“Cole felt something, but he looks fine. They already checked him. He looks fine, he looks okay. So hopefully there is not any problem and he can be available for Sunday’s game.”

Palmer has only missed one match since moving to Stamford Bridge last summer due to fitness reasons, and that was a cold. He wasn’t in the squad for the 5-0 defeat to Arsenal back in April. He has been fit for every other Chelsea fixture which is impressive, considering the club’s poor record when it comes to injuries. There were times last season when the treatment room had to accommodate 10+ players.

Expected Return Date – Sunday 25th August v Wolves

Captain Reece James is undergoing treatment on a minor hamstring injury which has kept him out of Chelsea’s first two competitive matches against Manchester City and Servette.

The fullback underwent surgery following a hamstring tear back in December last year and he was sidelined for several months.

It is, therefore, understandable why the Blues’ medical team are being rather cautious with this latest setback. James is not expected to return before the next international break.

The defender won’t be ready to face Wolves and he is unlikely to play against Servette on Thursday or Crystal Palace next weekend either.

Expected Return Date – Saturday 14th September v Bournemouth

Find out who is in Chelsea’s first-team squad for the 2024/2025 season here