Chelsea picked up a one-sided 5-1 victory against West Ham United in their second Premier League game of the season, following a draw against Crystal Palace in the opener. Despite going down by a goal in the sixth minute, the Blues rallied and put five past the Hammers' defence, with five different names on the scoresheet for Enzo Maresca's side.
However, not everything came out positively from that matchday, as Cole Palmer missed the game despite being named in the starting XI and was seen leaving the field just minutes before kickoff. It was later revealed that the English midfielder picked up a groin issue during warm-up and the manager decided against taking any risks.
It has now been almost a week since that match, and tensions have grown among fans regarding the extent of Palmer’s injury and whether he will be available against Fulham in the West London derby. Well, Maresca has recently given a clear answer to that question.
Football London have reported that Maresca confirmed during his pre-match press conference that Palmer, Benoit Badiashile, and Romeo Lavia will miss the game against Fulham. He said:
"Cole is out, Benoit is out, Romeo is out. The rest are okay.
"I'm always worried but with Romeo and Benoit, because it is a long time out, it is normal they need time. It's the same what we're doing with Wes [Fofana]."
Cole Palmer, Benoit Badiashile, and Romeo Lavia set to miss Chelsea’s matchup against Fulham
When asked further about the situation of Palmer, Maresca said:
"Cole, we need to see day by day. Romeo and Benoit, I don't think they will be back after the international break but they will be closer."
Palmer, who performed incredibly in the Club World Cup, especially in the final against PSG, will remain out on the sidelines for the time being although it does not sound like it is a long-term issue. Until then, Chelsea will have to rely on their squad depth to make the most of the situation.
In the last match against West Ham United, Maresca opted for Joao Pedro to operate in Palmer’s position, and the Brazilian was exceptional, scoring a goal and providing two assists. Estevao was brought into the starting XI on the right flank and was Man of the Match. It remains to be seen if the manager goes with a similar setup against Fulham at Stamford Bridge, as Chelsea look to maintain their winning momentum.