Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has confirmed that Cole Palmer is fit to return to the starting lineup ahead of the club’s high-stakes Premier League showdown against leaders Arsenal this weekend.
Palmer has been out of action since September 20, first recovering from a groin injury before suffering a fractured toe. But Maresca revealed during Friday’s pre-match press conference that the 23-year-old is now ready to start Sunday’s top-of-the-table encounter at Stamford Bridge.
A victory for second-placed Chelsea would move them to within three points of Mikel Arteta’s side.
“Everyone is happy, his teammates are happy, we are all happy — and most importantly, Cole is happy,” Maresca said. “Football players want to play games. He is probably our best player. We are happy that he is back. Now we need to give him time to be 100 percent fit.”
Palmer, Chelsea’s top scorer in the Premier League last season with 15 goals, has played only four matches across all competitions this campaign, scoring twice.
His return adds to the growing excitement around Brazilian teenager Estevao, who scored a sensational solo goal in Chelsea’s 3-0 Champions League win over Barcelona on Tuesday. Maresca acknowledged the buzz around pairing Palmer with the 18-year-old prodigy.
“Depends on the team we face and the game plan, but for sure the fans are excited to watch both together,” he said. “We are excited as well, but balance is always important.”
Reflecting on his second season at the club, the Italian coach said Chelsea had made significant progress but warned it was too early to discuss title ambitions.
“For sure it’s different compared to one year ago because we’ve spent more time together,” Maresca said. “We went through moments we can learn from. But it’s still early — we need to be in this position in March or April, then we’ll see.”
