CHELSEA forward Cole Palmer and defender Tosin Adarabioyo will not be available for several weeks due to different injuries.
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca confirmed today that Palmer will be rested for up to three weeks as the England international continues to manage a persistent groin injury.
Palmer had to be substituted off in the first half of last weekend’s 2-1 defeat at Manchester United after the issue reoccurred, having initially flared up during the shortened two-week pre-season after Chelsea won the FIFA Club World Cup in July.
Maresca will also be without Adarabioyo until after the international break as the England-born Nigerian centre-back is battling with a calf injury.
Another defender, Wesley Fofana, will miss Saturday’s game against Brighton with concussion.
Chelsea face Brighton and Liverpool in the English Premier League, and Jose Mourinho’s Benfica in the UEFA Champions League before October’s international break.
“Yes, we decided to protect a little bit Cole, in terms of not letting his injury get worse,” said Maresca during his press release.
“We decided to rest him for two to three weeks until the international break to see if with that rest he can recover 100% and to be fit after the international break.
“I don’t think he needs surgery but it is just to manage the pain in his groin. We have decided to be a little bit conservative with him.”
Palmer has started just three of Chelsea’s seven matches so far this season and missed England’s World Cup qualifiers against Andorra and Serbia earlier this month.
The next international break comes up in early October to the middle of the month.