Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca says he does not expect Cole Palmer to require surgery on the groin injury that forced him off in Saturday’s 2-1 defeat to Manchester United.
The England forward, who has made just two Premier League starts this season, lasted only 21 minutes at Old Trafford before limping off.
“The medical staff didn’t mention surgery to me,” Maresca told reporters. “Maybe in the next days or weeks, but I don’t think so, to be honest. He made a huge effort to try to play, he passed the test but wasn’t 100 per cent. Unfortunately, it was painful, so we decided to change it. For now, it’s day-by-day, week-by-week.”
Palmer is expected to miss Tuesday’s League Cup third-round tie away to League One side Lincoln City, with Romeo Lavia and Benoît Badiashile also unavailable. Maresca confirmed he will turn to Chelsea’s academy to fill gaps but admitted the trip to Sincil Bank comes with risks.
“These are the games that worry me most because you can slip up very easily,” he said. “Football is full of these kinds of games, and I am very worried about that.”
