Chelsea handed quadruple injury boost as Liam Rosenior reveals Cole Palmer update | OneFootball

Blues’ fitness issues easing ahead of key Aston Villa and PSG clashes

Palmer started for the Blues in Sunday’s high-profile London derby at the Emirates Stadium, but went down off the ball late in the first half and received treatment from medical staff.

The England attacker briefly left the pitch before quickly returning and he ended up playing 86 minutes before being replaced by Alejandro Garnacho as Chelsea’s 10 men pushed in vain for a late equaliser following the dismissal of Pedro Neto, with Piero Hincapie’s earlier own goal sandwiched by set-piece headers from William Saliba and Jurrien Timber.

Chelsea fans will be relieved to learn that Palmer has not suffered any fresh setback ahead of a key trip to fourth-place Aston Villa on Wednesday night as Rosenior’s side, now down in sixth, hope to cut the six-point deficit to their opponents in the race for Champions League qualification with only 10 games left to play this term.

It has been an injury-hit season so far for the 23-year-old, who was plagued by a persistent groin issue suffered during pre-season and also fractured his toe in an accident at home as well as battling a thigh strain.

“It wasn’t,” Rosenior told reporters at his pre-Villa press conference on Monday when told it looked like Palmer’s long-standing groin problem had flared up once more against Arsenal.

“He took a knock. He was absolutely fine. He’s looking really good after the way we’ve managed him over the last six weeks or so.

“When I took him and Enzo [Fernandez] off, they were both on a yellow card. He’ll be absolutely fine to start on Wednesday.”

The trip to Villa Park could come too soon for Marc Cucurella, who has missed Chelsea’s last three games with a hamstring injury suffered in the 2-2 home draw with Leeds last month.

However, Rosenior is optimistic that the Spaniard will definitely be involved when his team go to Championship promotion-chasers Wrexham in the FA Cup fifth round on Saturday, a match that comes ahead of their first-leg visit to holders Paris Saint-Germain in the last 16 of the Champions League next week.

The Chelsea boss also revealed that Estevao was back working in training after missing the games against Burnley and Arsenal with his own hamstring complaint, while Jamie Gittens continues to recover well from a hamstring tear picked up in the comeback win over West Ham in January.

“Jamie Gittens is doing well. The quicker we get players fit and healthy, the better.”

Chelsea will have Wesley Fofana back from suspension to face Villa, but Neto is now banned for one game after his two quick-fire yellow cards against Arsenal.

Dario Essugo is back in training after his latest injury setback, while Levi Colwill is still rehabbing following an anterior cruciate ligament injury that has kept him sidelined since the summer.