Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has shared a comprehensive injury update ahead of their weekend Premier League encounter with Nottingham Forest, confirming several setbacks and a few welcome returns. Speaking to the media, the Italian tactician provided clarity on Cole Palmer’s recovery timeline, as well as updates on other key players.
Softfootball reported that Palmer was said to be desperate to face Manchester United. He could not finish the match due to injury and will miss at least six more weeks after suffering a groin injury, though surgery won’t be required. Maresca admitted in an update shared by Fabrizio Romano on his official X account:
The medical are not magicians. We hope six weeks are enough, but for sure Cole will be okay, and he doesn’t need surgery.
Maresca also highlighted that Benoît Badiashile will be sidelined until December due to a muscular problem, while Levi Colwill (ACL) and Liam Delap (hamstring) remain long-term absentees. However, the coach had some good news to share — Tosin Adarabioyo, Wesley Fofana, and Andrey Santos have all returned to full training and are available for selection.
The manager’s calm yet firm approach reflects his belief in Chelsea’s squad depth, which he described earlier this month as belonging to a legendary and enormous club, as reported by SoftFootball. When asked about Moisés Caicedo, Enzo Fernández, and João Pedro, Maresca confirmed there are still doubts. He said:
Moi, Enzo, and Pedro haven’t trained recently. We will need to check their fitness before the match.
Meanwhile, Reece James is fully fit again after a minor precaution led to his withdrawal from England duty. There’s also optimism surrounding young forward Marc Guiu, who has been training with the first team again. The teenager recently expressed his joy at being back at Chelsea despite limited minutes this season.
Chelsea remain focused on keeping momentum despite their injury list. The return of key defenders adds stability, while the squad’s growing unity under Enzo Maresca could prove decisive against Nottingham Forest.
