Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso has received a significant selection boost ahead of Saturday's Premier League meeting with Manchester United at Stamford Bridge.
The Blues host United in the lunchtime kick-off, aiming to recover from back-to-back defeats this week. Chelsea lost their first home game of the season against Tottenham and were then eliminated from the Carabao Cup at the fourth-round stage by Liverpool on penalties.
Palmer available after suspension
Cole Palmer was absent from the matchday squad at Anfield on Wednesday night. The attacking midfielder had been sent off for two bookable offences in the defeat to Spurs, but he will not miss any Premier League matches through suspension.
A statement on the Premier League website reads: "Despite being sent off for two bookable offences in Chelsea's defeat to Tottenham Hotspur, and receiving an automatic one-match suspension, Cole Palmer will not miss any Premier League matches.
"Instead, he served his suspension in Chelsea's fourth round encounter with Liverpool in the EFL Cup on Wednesday."
Alonso confirms recall contention
In a boost for Alonso, Chelsea have confirmed that Palmer is in contention to face United, who are on a run of eight games without a win across all competitions.
While most of the Blues players who featured at Anfield were completing recovery work in the gym at Cobham, Palmer trained on the grass alongside Valentin Barco and Marco Palestra. Palmer apologised to Chelsea supporters for his ill-discipline against Tottenham and is expected to earn an immediate recall to the starting XI following talks with Alonso.
"We spoke," Alonso said before the Liverpool game. "He knows the mistake he made.
"It's things he can avoid. Let's hope it's not going to be repeated. He's mature. It was a mistake."
