Chelsea: Enzo Maresca provides Cole Palmer injury update after Conference League worry

Enzo Maresca has cooled fears that Cole Palmer picked up an injury during Chelsea’s win over Servette.

Palmer was seen wincing and holding his leg as he left the pitch following the final whistle on Thursday night, after the Blues beat Servette in the first leg of their UEFA Conference League play-off.

The England midfielder was a second-half substitute in the game, coming off the bench with just over 30 minutes to go and helping Chelsea win 2-0.

After he left the pitch at full-time in discomfort, there had been fears Palmer could have picked an injury and that he may miss Sunday’s game at Wolves.

But Maresca said: “Cole felt something, but he looks fine. They already checked him. He looks fine, he looks okay.

“So hopefully there is not any problem and he can be available for Sunday’s game.”

Chelsea got the win they wanted on Thursday night, but there were some boos at half-time from the home fans with the game goalless.

There was also some discontent in the second half when the ball was played back to the goalkeeper from the halfway line.

Asked if he had a message for the fans, Maresca said: “The message is quite clear.

“At the moment we are learning how to manage the game. Probably in some moments, the right thing was to do exactly the same thing, but on the opposite side.

“So, for me, the intention to keep the ball is the correct one - especially when you are 2-0 up. The intention is good, but probably where is not good.

“We try to manage the ball in the last 10, 15 minutes in our half, but we need to try to do exactly the same in the opposite half.

“So I can understand [fans booing], but overall I think it was important tonight the win game - clean sheet, we did nine changes, we had players like Renato [Veiga] excel, Pedro [Neto], even Marc [Guiu], it was Filip Jorgensen’s first official game. So many good things.”