Enzo Maresca has confirmed Cole Palmer is fit and will travel for Chelsea\u2019s midweek fixture at Elland Road, but the manager stressed the priority is managing the forward\u2019s minutes as he returns to full fitness. “He is available,” Maresca confirmed ahead of the midweek trip to Elland Road. “He was on the bench last game. With 10 players, it was more complicated for Cole because he needs to come back in terms of fitness condition. The idea is to give him some minutes until he can play 90 minutes.” <\/p>\n
The measured approach follows a disrupted start to Palmer\u2019s campaign. After playing the full 90 minutes on the opening weekend of the season the 23-year-old was forced out for the next two weeks with a groin problem. When he returned in September against Brentford, Maresca chose not to risk him from the first whistle. That second start lasted just 21 minutes before Palmer was withdrawn with a recurrence of the same issue. <\/p>\n
Maresca framed the handling of Palmer as part of a wider fitness discussion within the squad. “Everyone is fine,” Maresca began his prematch press conference on Tuesday, before listing two players who are not so fine. “Rom\u00e9o [Lavia] is still recovering,” Maresca warned of the injury-riddled midfielder. “D\u00e1rio [Essugo], he was O.K. and started some sessions with us. He now needs to slow down a little bit. He will be out again, hopefully nothing important.” <\/p>\n
Both Lavia and Essugo have spent time in Chelsea\u2019s treatment room this season. The Belgian has missed the past month with a muscular strain while Essugo is yet to make an appearance this season. Against the backdrop of those absences, Maresca\u2019s plan is clear: reintroduce Palmer cautiously and build his load back toward a full 90 minutes rather than rush him straight into lengthy starts.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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