Chelsea Star Nearing Long-Awaited Comeback
Chelsea playmaker Cole Palmer could make his dramatic return to action in the club's crucial Champions League encounter against Barcelona on Tuesday, November 25th. The English international has been absent from the squad since mid-September, missing a total of eleven matches for the Blues.
The Road to Recovery
Palmer's lengthy spell on the sidelines began when he was forced off with a groin injury during Chelsea's defeat to Manchester United. Rather than attempting to manage the persistent discomfort, the club's medical team and several external specialists agreed on a complete recovery period, ruling out surgery as a necessary option. Manager Enzo Maresca provided updates throughout, initially indicating a probable six-week timeline at the start of October while emphasising the need to protect the player for a full return.
Maresca remained cautious in his later comments, stating, "With Cole, the plan is exactly the same. We will wait, and hopefully he can be back soon." This patient approach appears to have paid off, with the Barcelona match now pencilled in as a realistic target for his comeback.
International Ambitions Add Urgency
The timing of Palmer's return carries significant weight beyond club duties. With a World Cup scheduled for next summer, Palmer is intensely focused on securing a place in Thomas Tuchel's England squad. His opportunities to impress the national team manager have been limited; since Tuchel replaced Lee Carsley, Palmer has featured in just one squad, starting in a 1-0 win over Andorra.
Tuchel himself has acknowledged the fierce competition for places, particularly in Palmer's favoured attacking midfield role. "Especially in the number ten position, if you think about Phil [Foden], who could play there, if you think about Jude [Bellingham], you think about Morgan Rogers... You have Cole Palmer, you have Morgan Gibbs-White," Tuchel noted, adding, "there's the chance that we will not take everyone to the World Cup."
Palmer's return to fitness comes at a critical juncture for Chelsea, with a demanding schedule of Premier League fixtures against the likes of Arsenal and Burnley, alongside the European showdown with Barcelona. His availability will be a major boost for Maresca as the team navigates this busy period.
