Chelsea will be without Cole Palmer for Sunday's Premier League clash against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park. The 23-year-old has been ruled out with a minor thigh issue, manager Liam Rosenior confirmed before kick-off.
Palmer's name was absent from both the starting XI and the bench when the teams were announced at 12:45pm. Rosenior explained that the attacking midfielder had trained in the previous two days but was not fully fit. 'Unfortunately for us, Cole's not quite right for this one,' he told Sky Sports. 'He's got a little niggle in his thigh, he's not quite 100 per cent but he's got a chance for Wednesday. Hopefully he's back for then.'
It is the second successive match Palmer has missed, having also sat out the midweek 1-0 victory over Pafos due to 'tightness' in his thigh. The England international has endured a disrupted season, managing only 12 Premier League appearances so far after suffering groin problems and a broken toe.
Rosenior dismissed recent speculation linking Palmer with a move to Manchester United, insisting the player remains committed. 'I've had numerous conversations with Cole and he seems, and is, very, very happy to be here,' he said. 'He is a huge part of our long-term plans.'
Chelsea's next fixture is a crucial Champions League group stage match against Napoli on Wednesday, where a positive result could secure automatic qualification to the knockout stages. The Blues currently sit eighth in the league standings with four wins, one draw and two defeats.
