Chelsea to rest Palmer for two to three weeks: Maresca

Cole Palmer will likely be out of action until after next month’s international break to give the Chelsea midfielder time to shake off a groin problem, manager Enzo Maresca said on Friday.

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The England international came off midway through the first half in Chelsea’s 2-1 defeat at Manchester United last week, their first Premier League defeat of the season.

The 23-year-old had previously missed games against West Ham and Fulham with the same issue.

Maresca told reporters that Chelsea had decided to “protect” Palmer so his injury would not get worse.

“We decided to rest him for the next two or three weeks, probably until the international break, just to see if, with that rest, he can be able to recover 100 percent and to be completely fit after the international break,” he explained.