Cole Palmer is said to be 'confident' of being fit enough to start Chelsea's Premier League clash with Bournemouth this weekend. The 24-year-old attacker had appeared to have put his injury woes behind him as he hit the ground running in an impressive start to the new season, registering four goals and two assists for Chelsea.
Frustrating season for Palmer
It proved an immensely frustrating year for Palmer last term, with a combination of poor form and fitness ultimately resulting in the forward missing out on a place in England's World Cup squad. And while Palmer was recalled to Thomas Tuchel's party for the Three Lions' recent Nations League matches, he subsequently made the decision to pull out of the squad due to a minor muscular problem.
In the intervening days, Tuchel made it clear he was less than impressed with Palmer's withdrawal, telling reporters: 'It is a missed opportunity. He misses too many opportunities.'
'I don't blame him for it. It is just a fact. He misses way too many camps with injuries, and I only want to rely on what I witness and see within in my team, and for that you have to be in camp.'
'If you're not in camp, there is a next level to impress that you cannot achieve because you can only do it when you are actually on the pitch with me. So yes, it is a missed opportunity.'
Recovery and team news
According to The Sun, Palmer has overcome his setback and is 'set to be fit' for Chelsea's encounter with Bournemouth on Saturday after doing individual work with a specialist fitness coach while away in the Caribbean. It's claimed all the 'signs' points towards Palmer being available at Stamford Bridge – and the report adds that Xabi Alonso is hoping to receive good news on some of Chelsea's other injury doubts.
Joao Pedro was forced to sit out Chelsea's loss to Brentford before the international due to a knee issue, which ruled him out of contention for Brazil's friendlies with Australia and India. Club captain Reece James, meanwhile, was sidelined for the London derby with a hamstring problem, meaning Pedro Neto filled in as a makeshift wing-back at the Gtech Community Stadium.
Moises Caicedo's absence will have been a major source of frustration for Alonso and the Blues have undoubtedly missed the former Brighton man's presence in central midfield across their rocky start to the campaign. The 24-year-old has managed a total of only 14 minutes of action thus far due to a calf injury, which also saw him miss out on a place in Ecuador's latest squad.
Elsewhere in the squad, Marco Palestra is believed to be edging closer to full match fitness following his £47million move from Atalanta in the summer transfer window. The 21-year-old right-back featured in pre-season but is still yet to make his competitive debut for the Blues due to a quadriceps muscle injury.
Current standing and recent meetings
Chelsea are languishing down in tenth in the Premier League table having picked up just seven points from their opening five matches against Fulham, Brighton, Arsenal, Hull and Brentford. The Blues were held to a goalless stalemate away to Bournemouth, their next opponents, last season, before drawing 2-2 with the Cherries at Stamford Bridge.
