Cole Palmer’s fractured toe turned into the last thing Chelsea wanted to deal with right before a tough stretch of games. The midfielder was close to returning from a groin injury, was already training normally, and the club expected him back for the match against Burnley. But one accident changed everything.
Enzo Maresca confirmed that Palmer hit his big toe on a door two days ago and will now be out for a few more weeks. The coach was clear when he said Palmer won’t play this Saturday and is also ruled out of the games against Barcelona and Arsenal.
The impact of Palmer’s absence
The injury itself is simple, but the timing couldn’t be worse. Palmer has been out since September, when he had to leave the match against Manchester United in the first half, and he was recovering well from the groin issue. Maresca even said he was basically ready to rejoin full training. When they met in the locker room on Thursday, it was obvious the problem wasn’t pain.
The bigger issue would be wearing a medical boot because of where the fracture is, something the coach described as uncomfortable since it involves “a little toe”. Even so, there was no chance of an immediate return. “He definitely won’t be available tomorrow or next week,” Maresca said. According to the Daily Mail, the injury happened when he hit his foot on a door, which explains both the fracture and the setback in his recovery.
The concern grows because Chelsea is in an important moment in the Premier League. The team sits in third place and travels to face Burnley, who are 17th, with a chance to move into second if Manchester City slip.
The next steps for Chelsea
The coach admitted he doesn’t know exactly when Palmer will be back. “He was very close. He was almost back with us regarding the groin injury, which was great news. Then he had this small problem. But we hope it’s nothing serious,” he said. Based on the situation, his return will likely come next month, which means missing another chunk of what’s becoming a tight schedule. For a club that was finally starting to build an identity under Maresca, every extended absence forces new adjustments.
Chelsea now face Burnley without their most influential player at a moment when the team could’ve taken an important step in the standings. It’s not a dramatic situation, but it’s frustrating because Palmer was close to coming back and would’ve had an immediate impact on the team’s creative play.