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Chelsea suffer fresh Cole Palmer blow with new return date revealed
Oct 09 2025 11:38 · By Tony Mogan
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Palmer has made just four appearances this season (Picture: Getty)
Cole Palmer will be sidelined until November due to an ongoing groin injury that has disrupted the Chelsea star’s season.
Palmer, 23, has started just two Premier League matches this season, on the opening day of the new campaign against Crystal Palace and at Manchester United last month.
His appearance at Old Trafford was cut short after just 20 minutes, forced off with the same groin problem.
Chelsea have been carefully managing Palmer’s injury, deciding to pull him out of the squad following that setback at United and missing games against Lincoln City, Brighton, Benfica and Liverpool heading into the October international break.
It had been hoped he would be available again for the game against Nottingham Forest on Saturday 18 October. But following meetings between Enzo Maresca and Chelsea’s medical staff, that return date has now been pushed back.
The Athletic report Palmer will miss the Forest game along with the Champions League clash with Ajax. He will also sit out of the visit of Sunderland in the Premier League and the Carabao Cup fourth round clash with Wolves.
That timeline however could see him return in time for the clash with Tottenham on 1 November.
Palmer has been dealing with a groin problem this season (Picture: Getty)
Palmer has been limited to just four appearances this season, scoring two goals. He was on the score sheet after coming off the bench against Brentford in mid-September, starting and scoring against Bayern Munich four days later.
That groin issue has also ensured Palmer has not been part of the England squad having featured just once under Thomas Tuchel.
With the World Cup next summer already shifting into focus, Tuchel admitted this week the ‘concerning’ groin issue could effect his chances of making the final squad.
‘He was only in the June camp, that’s concerning, of course,’ Tuchel said of Palmer’s fitness problems after confirming that England would also be without their captain, Kane, due to injury.
Tuchel’s side take on Wales for a friendly at Wembley on Thursday (Picture: Getty)
‘First of all, the most important thing is that he can play without pain because the groin issue is a very dangerous one to become chronic. This is the most important thing.