Chelsea midfielder Cole Palmer will be sidelined for up to three weeks as he recovers from a recurring groin problem.
Palmer was taken out in the first half of last weekend’s defeat at Manchester United after the problem resurfaced, having originally shown during the truncated two-week preseason following Chelsea’s Club World Cup win in July.
Before the international break in October, Enzo Maresca’s squad faces Brighton and Liverpool in the Premier League, as well as Jose Mourinho’s Benfica in the Champions League.
“Yes, we decided to protect a little bit Cole, in terms of not letting his injury get worse,” said Maresca.
“We decided to rest him for two to three weeks until the international break to see if with that rest he can recover 100% and to be fit after the international break.
“I don’t think he needs surgery but it is just to manage the pain in his groin. We have decided to be a little bit conservative with him.”
