Enzo Maresca has indicated that Cole Palmer is set to be available for Chelsea’s Premier League match against Leicester City on Saturday.
Palmer was a doubt for Chelsea’s 1-1 draw with Arsenal before the international break due to a knee injury he suffered in the 1-1 draw with Manchester United at Old Trafford on November 3.
Chelsea’s talisman initially reported for international duty with England during the international break before both he and Levi Colwill pulled out of Lee Carsley’s squad.
Chelsea will be without Reece James for their trip to Leicester for Saturday’s early Premier League match, but Maresca is hopeful that both Palmer and Colwill will be able to play.
‘We have, for sure, just one injured player, that is Reece [James] who unfortunately felt something small and we don’t want to take any risk for the weekend,’ Maresca said on Thursday.
‘He is the only one for sure who is not available for this weekend.
‘The rest, some of them are better, some of them are still doubts and also we need to wait because today is the first session that we do with all the players who were with their national team.’
Asked specifically about Palmer and Levi Colwill, Maresca replied: ‘As I said, yes, some of them are better, some of them we test today. But overall, they are better.’
On James’ injury, Maresca added: ‘It’s a hamstring, it’s a muscular problem. We don’t want to take any risks for this weekend, hopefully it’s not something long.
‘I know that it’s not easy but if every time he gets an injury it becomes hard for him, for me it’s even worse. He has to accept that. He has to try to avoid as much as he can, but sometimes things happen, even if you want to avoid that.’
Maresca was also asked about potential rotation in Chelsea’s midfield with Romeo Lavia an injury doubt, while both Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo have been away on international duty in South America during the break.
‘Renato Viega did in some games but he also played 180 minutes for Portugal,’ Maresca said.
‘In the cup, Cesare Casedei did very well but he also played both games with Italy Under-21s.
‘For sure, the ones who are going to play are not going to be 100 per cent because they are human beings and when you play two games in South America and you come back and you have to play again, even if you are 20 years old, or 25, doesn’t matter, you are a human being. Hopefully we can find a balance.’
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