Chelsea: Enzo Maresca delivers new Cole Palmer fitness update after Arsenal clash

Enzo Maresca has cast doubt over Cole Palmer’s availability for England, after revealing the Chelsea star was a major doubt for Sunday’s draw with Arsenal.

Palmer recovered from a knee problem in time to play 90 minutes against the Gunners, but Maresca suggested the former Manchester City man was in pain after the full-time whistle.

The 22-year-old had been hurt by a poor tackle from Manchester United’s Lisandro Martinez during the previous weekend’s 1-1 draw at Old Trafford and missed training during the week.

“I don’t think we took any risks,” Maresca insisted. “For sure, he was a doubt until the end. His performances have been very good.

“In the first 10 minutes, we contact with him, from [Levi] Colwill to him, three or four times. Then they adjust and [Thomas] Partey was marking him man-to-man so it was difficult for Cole in that case. But overall, very happy with Cole’s performance.”

Palmer was last week included in the latest England squad for Nations League matches against Greece and the Republic of Ireland, but it remains to be seen whether he will be available, with the team due to meet up at St George’s Park this week.

“He is painful now but it doesn’t look something important,” Maresca added.

This is the final international break of Lee Carsley’s interim England tenure before Thomas Tuchel takes charge in the New Year, and there are fears that a number of players could yet drop out of the squad.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has already suggested that Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka will be out after both picking up injuries at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, while Trent Alexander-Arnold was forced off early in Liverpool’s win over Aston Villa on Saturday night.

Anthony Gordon also limped out of Newcastle’s win at Nottingham Forest on Sunday, while Tottenham striker Dominic Solanke sustained a knee issue in their shock home defeat by Ipswich.