Enzo Maresca expects Cole Palmer to miss England’s World Cup qualifiers this month after suffering a “muscular injury” which will require a scan on Monday.
The 22-year-old missed Sunday’s 1-0 defeat at Arsenal after suffering the problem in training on the eve of the game but has not yet formally withdrawn from Thomas Tuchel’s first England squad ahead of matches against Albania and Latvia at Wembley.
However, when asked whether Palmer would be available for his country after this latest setback, Maresca said: “I don’t think so, to be honest. His injury was from yesterday’s session — it’s a muscle problem, so I don’t think so.
“We don’t wish players injured but in Cole’s case, in this moment, it will give him some rest physically and mentally,” he said. “It could be good.”
Mikel Merino’s 20th-minute header settled a contest in which Chelsea struggled to create many clear-cut chances and Maresca added: “What I can say between the first game against Arsenal and today’s game, to be honest, I don’t see a big difference between us and them.
“This means, for me, since I arrived, I have the feeling we are on the right path and we are very close. We need just that step forward to compete in these kind of games. That step comes finishing in the top four, top five – [a] Champions League spot.”
