(DDM) – Chelsea have received a timely boost ahead of their Premier League showdown with Manchester United, with manager Enzo Maresca confirming that star forward Cole Palmer is fit to feature despite concerns over a lingering groin injury.
Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) gathered that Palmer, who has been Chelsea’s most consistent performer since joining from Manchester City in 2023, had struggled with fitness issues throughout the early stages of the season.
The 23-year-old was forced to play through discomfort on the opening weekend before withdrawing during the warm-up in a clash against West Ham.
The injury sidelined him for Chelsea’s win against Fulham and also ruled him out of international duty with England. However, Palmer made a return in the 2-2 draw with Brentford last weekend, coming off the bench to score a crucial equalizer.
His impact was immediate, reaffirming his importance to Maresca’s system.
On Wednesday, the attacking midfielder started in Chelsea’s Champions League return against Bayern Munich, where he found the net once and had another goal disallowed.
Despite Chelsea losing 3-1 on the night, Palmer’s display was one of the positives, though concerns arose when he appeared in visible discomfort during the final stages of the match.
Speaking to reporters ahead of Saturday’s high-profile fixture at Old Trafford, Maresca sought to calm nerves by clarifying Palmer’s condition. “Cole is okay,” he said. “We have a session now. We flew back yesterday. We need to assess some players, we have some doubts. We didn’t have a session since Wednesday’s game, but we will see.”
Palmer’s availability comes as welcome news for Chelsea, who have endured an inconsistent start to the Premier League campaign under their new manager.
His creativity, composure on the ball, and eye for goal have made him indispensable, with several pundits already labeling him as Chelsea’s standout player of the season so far.
The Blues will need him firing on all cylinders against Manchester United, who themselves are under pressure following a stuttering run of form in the league.
Historically, fixtures between the two clubs have produced drama, with last season’s meetings ending in a United victory at Old Trafford and a thrilling 4-3 Chelsea win at Stamford Bridge, where Palmer scored a hat-trick.
With the season still in its early stages, Saturday’s game is seen as crucial for both sides.
For Chelsea, it represents an opportunity to reassert themselves as top-four contenders, while United will be looking to avoid slipping further behind their rivals.
For now, all eyes will be on Palmer, whose fitness could prove decisive in determining Chelsea’s fortunes at Old Trafford.
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