Enzo Maresca delivers worrying Cole Palmer injury update | OneFootball

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has revealed that Cole Palmer is an injury doubt for Monday night's Premier League meeting with Wolverhampton Wanderers.

The languid playmaker racked up his 14th goal of the season against Bournemouth on Tuesday, sending goalkeeper Mark Travers to the turf with an impish dummy before picking out the back of the net.

However, as Maresca outlined when speaking to the assembled media on Friday afternoon, Palmer sustained plenty of blows during a physical 2-2 draw. "Cole is a doubt," the Italian admitted. "The first half [of the last game] they kicked him so he didn't train today.

"We don't know if he will train in the next two days," Maresca added.

Chelsea have been accused of being over-reliant on Palmer. The English playmaker has either scored or assisted 20 Premier League goals this season - almost half of the team's entire tally (49%). Yet, Maresca was confident that the rest of his players could adapt to the absence of their talisman.

Cole Palmer has either taken or created 38% of all the shots Chelsea have attempted in the Premier League this season / Mike Hewitt/GettyImages

"We rely on Cole because he's a big player," the former Manchester City youth-team coach noted. "We prefer to play with Cole but in case he has an injury or a problem, then we will find a solution."

Chelsea haven't had much need to play without Palmer since his arrival in September 2023. The former City academy graduate has missed just two of the club's last 56 Premier League matches - once through suspension and while nursing a cold on another occasion.

Palmer is not the only first team player whose fitness is mired in doubt ahead of Monday's visit from Wolves. First-choice centre-back Levi Colwill, who - like Palmer - has been a virtual ever-present in the Premier League, is at risk of missing out with a knock.

Regular absentee Romeo Lavia and vice-captain Enzo Fernandez are also dealing with muscle fatigue.