Attacker Ruled Out of England Squad After Training Setback | OneFootball

Cole Palmer Injury Blow as England Call-Up Looks Unlikely

Chelsea forward Cole Palmer is expected to miss England’s upcoming World Cup qualifiers after suffering a muscular injury in training. Manager Enzo Maresca confirmed the setback, ruling Palmer out of Chelsea’s 1-0 defeat to Arsenal on Sunday and casting doubt over his involvement in England’s matches against Albania and Latvia.

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The 22-year-old has been a key figure for Chelsea this season, contributing to 20 of their 53 Premier League goals, but his recent dip in form and ongoing fitness concerns raise questions about his workload. For England, losing one of their most influential young attackers is a setback as they begin a new era under Thomas Tuchel.

England Call-Up in Doubt

Palmer’s absence from Chelsea’s first Premier League defeat since April 2024 was a significant blow, and Maresca admitted it is unlikely he will be fit to join the national team.

“I don’t think [he will be fit for England] to be honest,” Maresca said after the Arsenal game. “His injury is from yesterday’s session. It’s a muscular problem, the scan is planned for Monday morning.”

The England squad had already undergone a late change, with Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White drafted in on Sunday. While Tuchel will still have attacking options, losing Palmer would be a setback given his impact at Chelsea this season.

Palmer has been one of Chelsea’s standout performers, leading the team’s attack in what has been a challenging campaign. However, Maresca acknowledged that a break could be beneficial, both physically and mentally, for the young forward.

Chelsea’s Attacking Struggles Without Key Players

Palmer’s injury comes at a difficult time for Chelsea, who were already without Nicolas Jackson and Noni Madueke against Arsenal. With all three of their top goal contributors missing, Maresca admitted the team lacked attacking firepower at the Emirates.

“It’s a huge difference. The three players who have the most goals for us [are] Cole Palmer, Nicolas Jackson, and Noni Madueke, none of them were inside the pitch,” Maresca explained.

“Two of them it’s already long term that they have been out. It’s normal that offensively that we can struggle a little bit.”

Despite these setbacks, Chelsea have still been one of the best attacking sides in the league, with only a few teams scoring more goals. But Maresca believes that with Palmer, Jackson, and Madueke fit, Chelsea could perform at an even higher level.

Dip in Form and Potential Recovery Period

While Palmer has been Chelsea’s main attacking outlet, he has not scored in his last seven Premier League games, leading some to believe he is experiencing fatigue from the demands of a long season.

Maresca hinted that a short break due to injury might actually benefit Palmer, allowing him time to reset both physically and mentally.

“We don’t wish for a player’s injury, but in Cole’s case at this moment, probably giving him some rest physically and mentally could be good,” Maresca said.

Palmer’s form earlier in the season made him a key contender for a starting spot in England’s attack, but Tuchel may now have to look elsewhere for his first qualifiers as England’s new manager. With two crucial matches coming up, England will have to adjust their attacking plans.

What This Means for England and Chelsea

For England, Palmer’s likely absence leaves Tuchel with decisions to make. While the squad still contains plenty of attacking options, Palmer’s creativity and goal-scoring threat will be missed, particularly as England begin a new tactical approach under Tuchel.

For Chelsea, Maresca will hope his star forward’s injury is not serious and that he can return quickly to lead the team’s attack again. With a busy fixture schedule ahead, getting Palmer back to full fitness will be a top priority for the Blues.

Chelsea fans will be eager to see whether this injury break does indeed help Palmer recover his best form, or if it becomes another setback in a season of inconsistency for the club.