According to reports, Cole Palmer has not yet participated in Chelsea training because of an injury he acquired prior to the international break.
The 22-year-old missed a significant portion of Chelsea’s 1-0 loss to London rivals Arsenal earlier this month.
Palmer had started every Premier League game this season until being ruled out of the match against Arsenal, so his absence was a major setback for Chelsea.
Palmer has suffered a muscle injury during training, Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca confirmed after the loss, but he was optimistic he would be ready to play again after the international break.
Palmer then left the England team for the opening two matches under Thomas Tuchel against Latvia and Albania.
Palmer has not yet resumed his workouts.
Palmer was expected to have time to relax and recuperate during the international window before Chelsea’s April 3 matchup with Tottenham Hotspur.
Still, there appears to be a lot of uncertainty about Chelsea’s star player’s readiness for the London derby at Stamford Bridge on Thursday.
Palmer has not participated in Chelsea training since suffering the injury before the loss to Arsenal, according to football.london.
Less than a week remains for the Chelsea attacker to resume training and demonstrate his fitness for the encounter with Ange Postecoglou’s team.
The value of Palmer to Chelsea
Prior to getting hurt, Palmer’s form declined; he failed to score or provide an assist in seven straight Premier League games.
He has 14 goals and six assists in 28 Premier League games this season, though, and is still Chelsea’s best attacker.
Only Mohamed Salah, Erling Haaland, Chris Wood, and Alexander Isak have contributed more goals in the Premier League this season, which puts Palmer’s outstanding stats in perspective.
In addition, Palmer has had success in his last three meetings with Spurs, tallying two goals and dishing out one assist.
The 22-year-old actually scored two goals to help the Blues defeat Tottenham 4-3 on the road in their rematch in December.