LONDON, UK – Chelsea has been dealt a painful and utterly frustrating injury blow as manager Enzo Maresca confirmed that star attacker Cole Palmer has fractured his toe in a freak accident at home.
The setback derails Palmer’s imminent return from a previous injury and forces him out of several crucial upcoming fixtures.
Fractured Toe Sets Back Return Timeline
The 23-year-old fractured his little toe after stubbing it on a door late at night at his residence.
The injury is separate from the groin strain that has kept him sidelined since late September.
Maresca delivered the news in his pre-match press conference:
“Cole Palmer has a fractured toe after an accident at home. He is probably not available for Burnley… Barcelona or Arsenal, for sure.”
“His toe it’s fractured… Cole was almost back from the groin injury but now he has this small issue.”
The manager tried to laugh off the bizarre nature of the accident but acknowledged the disappointment, noting that such small fractures cause intense pain, especially with contact from a football boot.
Missing Crucial Fixtures
The fracture means Palmer will miss all of Chelsea’s fixtures for at least the next two weeks, including a defining run of domestic and European matches:
Saturday, November 22nd: Away Premier League fixture against Burnley. (Note: This match has now been played, ending in a 2-0 victory for Chelsea.)
- Tuesday, November 25th: UEFA Champions League home match against Barcelona at Stamford Bridge.
- Sunday, November 30th: Crucial Premier League home fixture against rivals Arsenal.
Manager Enzo Maresca confirmed that Palmer is definitely ruled out for all three of these matches as he begins his recovery from the bizarre toe injury that occurred just as he was nearing a return from a groin problem
Palmer was reportedly very close to a full recovery from his groin injury, having resumed light training.
This new toe fracture forces a minimum three-week delay on his comeback, meaning the club will need to rely on their squad depth for the defining matches of November.
