Chelsea have been dealt a significant setback ahead of their West London derby, with Cole Palmer ruled out of Saturday’s Premier League clash against Fulham due to a groin injury.

The 22-year-old attacking midfielder, who was named in the starting XI against West Ham last weekend but pulled out during the warm-up, will not be available for selection at Craven Cottage.

Blues manager Enzo Maresca provided a fitness update during his pre-match press conference, confirming Palmer’s absence along with defenders Benoît Badiashile and long-term absentee Romeo Lavia.

Maresca Offers Injury Updates on Key Players

“Cole is out, Benoit is out, Romeo is out. The rest are okay,” 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 was spotted holding his groin just before kick-off against West Ham and was escorted to the dressing room by a member of Chelsea’s medical team.

While the club initially described the issue as precautionary, Maresca has since revealed that Palmer has been managing the injury since the start of the season, including during the goalless draw with Crystal Palace on opening weekend.

Palmer to Miss England Duty – Maresca Weighs In

Palmer’s injury has also ruled him out of England’s upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Andorra and Serbia, with national team boss Thomas Tuchel opting to leave him out of the squad. Maresca confirmed he had been in contact with Tuchel about the player’s situation.

“I spoke with Thomas a few times. It’s Thomas’ decision. He’s not available tomorrow, so it is quite normal that he has shown he has some problems,” Maresca added.

Chelsea Must Find Solutions Without Palmer

Despite Palmer’s absence, Maresca remains optimistic about Chelsea’s options going forward.

“When Cole is not in the game, we need to find different solutions. Hopefully tomorrow we can do the same,” he said.

Palmer has been one of Chelsea’s standout performers this season, and his absence will be felt as the Blues look to continue their recent upturn in form.

Romeo Lavia Injury Update

Meanwhile, Romeo Lavia’s long road to recovery continues. The Belgian midfielder is not expected to return until after the international break, though Maresca is hopeful he will be nearing a comeback soon afterward.

Lavia has yet to feature competitively for Chelsea since joining from Southampton due to persistent fitness setbacks.