Chelsea boss hopeful Cole can avoid surgery

ENZO Maresca is hopeful Cole Palmer will not require surgery on a groin injury which forced him off in Chelsea's 2-1 Premier League defeat at Manchester United.

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The England international, 23, has been able to start just twice in the league this season, and lasted only 21 minutes on Saturday.

Asked whether Palmer will need to have an operation on the injury, Maresca replied: "The medical staff, they didn't mention to me about surgery.

"I don't know if in the next days or the next weeks, but I don't think so, to be honest.