HIT FOR SIX

CHELSEA must battle on without star man Cole Palmer for at least another six weeks with his groin injury worse than feared.

- BOBBY VINCENT

The 23-year-old has been struggling with the issue since August and has made four appearances.

Last month, Blues boss Enzo Maresca said Palmer would be missing until after the October international break.

But with that period now over, he is still not ready to return.

Indeed, the only good news is the fact Palmer will at least not require surgery.

"I was wrong," Maresca said of his original assessment of Palmer's injury.

"Unfortunately he needs to be out for probably six more weeks. We try just to protect Cole as much as we can and the most important thing is that.

"Unfortunately the medical staff they are not magicians, they never know that you probably need six weeks.