Christmas has come early for the Stamford Bridge faithful. After a grueling first half of the season plagued by groin issues and a broken toe, Cole Palmer is finally back and ready to start.
Following his absence from the midweek Champions League trip to Bergamo, where Chelsea suffered a narrow 2-1 defeat to Atalanta, Enzo Maresca confirmed the news every fan wanted to hear: "Cole is OK. He’s better. He’s, at the moment, available."
The "Mixed Feelings" Training Session
While the news is overwhelmingly positive, Maresca revealed that the path back to full fitness for the 23-year-old hasn't been entirely smooth.
Careful Management: Palmer’s absence in midweek was a "calculated decision" by the medical staff. After starting against Bournemouth last weekend—his first start since September—the club felt playing two games in three days was too high a risk.
The Final Test: Maresca noted that Palmer finished Thursday's training session with "mixed feelings,"
likely due to the natural stiffness that comes with returning from long-term layoffs. However, after further assessment on Friday, the manager confirmed: "Overall, he is fine."
The Missing Piece of the Puzzle
It is impossible to overstate Palmer's importance. Despite being restricted to just six appearances in all competitions this season, his impact is legendary.
Last season, Palmer famously dismantled Everton at Stamford Bridge with a four-goal haul, and Maresca will be hoping for a repeat performance to snap Chelsea's current four-game winless streak. With the Blues currently sitting 5th in the table, Palmer’s creativity is the "sweet" tactical injection needed to bridge the eight-point gap to league leaders Arsenal.
The Maresca Effect
The update on Palmer serves as the perfect victory lap for Maresca, who was officially named Premier League Manager of the Month for November.While December has started roughly, the Italian remains "completely relaxed," insisting that the return of his best players will bring back the consistency seen during Chelsea's unbeaten run last month.
With the "Ice Cold" No.10 back in the lineup, Everton's defense will be on high alert. The stage is set for a Stamford Bridge homecoming that could reignite Chelsea's season.
Do you think Cole Palmer should be thrown straight into the starting XI, or should Maresca use him as a "super-sub" to protect his fitness?