Cole Palmer injury update: Chelsea player’s return delayed by broken toe

Chelsea midfielder Cole Palmer, who was close to a comeback after a groin injury, has broken a toe in a home accident that will rule him out of key games against Barcelona and Arsenal this month, manager Enzo Maresca said on Friday.

Palmer has scored 38 Premier League goals for Chelsea since joining the club in 2023 and was key to this year’s FIFA Club World Cup winning campaign with three goals in six games.

The England international suffered a groin injury in August but returned to action the following month with back-to-back goals against Brentford and Bayern Munich.

But Palmer was subsequently sent off injured at Manchester United, prompting Maresca to give him rest to recover, and has now hit the little toe of his left foot on a door overnight.

«He’s probably not available for tomorrow (at Burnley), certainly not for Barcelona and certainly not for Arsenal. Unfortunately he had an accident at home where he stubbed his toe. It’s nothing major but he won’t be back next week,» the Chelsea boss told reporters.

«I wake up a lot at night to go to the toilet, I hit my head and leg and stuff. It can happen. He was very close. He was back with us, almost with the groin, which is very good news, but he has a little problem…»

Asked how long Palmer would be sidelined, Maresca said: «We don’t know. The toe is broken. All we know is he’s not available this week and next week.»

Third-placed Chelsea are six points behind leaders Arsenal before visiting Burnley on Saturday, also without defender Levi Colwill and midfielders Dario Essugo and Romeo Lavia due to injuries.

But Enzo Fernandez and Pedro Neto, who used the international break to recover from their injuries, are available for the trip to Lancashire, the manager added.

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Maresca stressed that Chelsea, who have won seven of their last nine games in all competitions, are doing well despite Palmer’s absence.

«The team prefers when Cole plays. I feel much better with Cole on the pitch, but if he is not, we have to find solutions. The team is doing fantastic, very well,» said the Italian. «It’s nice for every manager if you miss a player, but the team still plays the way you want.»

Maresca said Chelsea’s focus was on the match against Burnley, who have lost their last two games and sit in 17th place, just above the drop zone on goal difference.

«Tomorrow we have to use a different strategy and weapons. It will be a tough match after the international breakaway… away, it’s always a tough match,» he said.

Published on November 21, 2025