Cole Palmer, the Chelsea star, has missed practice sessions before his team’s Premier League match against Arsenal on Tuesday night.
Pochettino Gives an Update on Cole Palmer Situation Ahead of Arsenal vs Chelsea Clash
After signing from Manchester City in the summer, 21-year-old Palmer has been Mauricio Pochettino’s greatest player thus far this season. For the Blues, the forward has assisted on 13 goals and scored 23 goals.
He failed to assist Chelsea in defeating Man City in the FA Cup semi-final on Saturday, despite having scored 10 goals in his previous five Premier League games, including four in the team’s 6-0 victory against Everton last week.
The England international played the whole match despite seeming to be hobbling and having some strapping around his leg at Wembley. But he was absent from Sunday and Monday’s training for Chelsea.
Pochettino acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding Palmer’s condition, stating,
“Today, no [he cannot play]. We will see tomorrow morning. Even if he is good tomorrow, maybe he is not in a condition to play.”
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Other Injury Concerns for Chelsea
The injury woes for Pochettino extend beyond Palmer, with defenders Ben Chilwell and Malo Gusto also facing fitness assessments ahead of the Arsenal match after sustaining injuries in the FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City.
The absence of key defensive personnel further compounds Chelsea’s challenges as they seek to secure a positive result against their London rivals.
Amidst the injury concerns, there is a glimmer of hope for Chelsea fans as midfielder Lesley Ugochukwu has resumed partial team training, joining Christopher Nkunku and Robert Sanchez.
Ugochukwu’s return to training provides a welcome boost for Pochettino’s squad, offering additional depth in midfield ahead of the crucial fixtures in the season’s closing stages.