Cole Palmer fires one-word Chelsea injury message before Aston Villa as Pochettino plan clear

Cole Palmer has sent a typically blunt message to Chelsea fans as he returns to training following Tuesday night's horror show away to Arsenal. The 21-year-old missed the game through injury but is now expected to be back in contention to play against Aston Villa at the weekend.

Chasing the Golden Boot, Palmer missed his first league game for Chelsea in 2024 at the Emirates Stadium. He had played the full game against his former club, Manchester City, in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley just three days earlier.

He was absent from training at Cobham on Monday ahead of the trip to north London, with Mauricio Pochettino explaining that even if he wasn't still feeling ill come gameday, it could take him some time to recover. That period now appears to have passed.

Palmer returned to Chelsea training ahead of his side's tough-looking away clash with Villa. Posting on his Instagram story with a picture of himself in training, fronting up to young striker Deivid Washington with the ball, Palmer wrote simply, "back [bicep and battery and emojis]'.

Pochettino will be keen to add his star man straight back into the starting line-up for Saturday. Palmer has scored 10 times in his last five league games, with two assists. He is up to 20 for the season - 23 in all competitions for Chelsea - with 13 assists in total as well.

He is currently level with Erling Haaland at the top of the scoring charts, with six games still to play for the Blues as well. Such is his form that Pochettino even offered up the suggestion that Chelsea needed to prove they aren't 'Cole Palmer FC'.

READ MORE: Pochettino sacked, Mourinho return - Final Chelsea manager verdict given after Arsenal loss

READ MORE: When Mauricio Pochettino could be sacked ahead of major Chelsea decision

"It’s a good challenge for the teammates," he said before the Arsenal humiliation. "If I am a teammate of Cole Palmer in his position or a similar position, I am going to be motivated to go there tomorrow and show this is Chelsea Football Club, not Cole Palmer Football Club."

That didn't go to plan, though, with none of Chelsea's attackers, or indeed players in general, showing themselves in a good light against the Gunners. Now they have the chance to respond, with European football still within touching distance.