Chelsea: Enzo Maresca reveals Cole Palmer latest in new three-man injury update

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·12 December 2025

Chelsea: Enzo Maresca reveals Cole Palmer latest in new three-man injury update

Blues boss explains “mixed” news before Everton visit after attacking talisman missed Champions League defeat by Atalanta

Cole Palmer is available for Chelsea’s clash with Everton as things stand, though Enzo Maresca has delivered a “mixed” new update on the Blues talisman.

Palmer recently saw his comeback following more than two months out with a lingering groin injury delayed by a fractured toe and the club are keen to carefully monitor his minutes to avoid any further setbacks.

The England attacker did not train in advance of Chelsea’s Champions League tie against Atalanta earlier this week and ended up being left out of the squad for a 2-1 loss in Italy as part of those plans, though it was expected that he would be fit for Saturday’s visit of Everton to Stamford Bridge in the Premier League.

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And while that appears to remain the case ahead of one final session at Cobham on Friday afternoon, Maresca admitted that Palmer had finished training on Thursday with a “mixed feeling”.

The Italian, who on Friday was named Premier League Manager of the Month for November, said: “Yep, he [Palmer] is OK. He is better. He is at the moment available.

“We have one more session this afternoon. Yesterday he finished the session with us with a mixed feeling, but he is okay.”

Chelsea will have Wesley Fofana available to face Everton after the French defender was introduced as a half-time replacement for Trevoh Chalobah against Atalanta, only to be withdrawn himself 30 minutes later and replaced by Tosin Adarabioyo after taking a painful boot to the eye that left him struggling to see properly.

“He’s available,” Maresca said of Fofana on Friday. “He’s fine. He took part in the session yesterday. He is completely fine.”

Chalobah and Enzo Fernandez will both be available for the weekend after their respective withdrawals against Atalanta were as a result of having their minutes managed.

One Chelsea player who won’t face Everton, though, is Liam Delap, who suffered a shoulder injury during the first half of last weekend’s goalless draw at Bournemouth.

Maresca believes the striker could be facing up to a month on the sidelines, where he joins long-term absentees Romeo Lavia and Levi Colwill.

Dario Essugo is also still to return following thigh surgery, while Moises Caicedo will serve the third and final match of his domestic suspension following his dismissal in the 1-1 draw with Arsenal.

Asked for how long Delap could be out, the Chelsea head coach responded ahead of the Everton game: “We don’t know. It could be two, three or four weeks.”