Cole Palmer is a doubt for Chelsea's crucial Premier League meeting with Wolves on Monday evening after picking up a knock to his ankle earlier in the week.

It seemed fairly innocuous at the time but Palmer hurt himself 24 minutes into the draw with Bournemouth on Tuesday night after an incident with Antoine Semenyo. Palmer slid in to try and win the ball back from the Cherries winger but ended up coming off worse.

The England international, who has scored 14 goals for Chelsea in the Premier League this season, was treated by medical staff at the time and despite Christopher Nkunku being sent out to warm up on the touchline, Palmer was deemed okay to continue. However, Palmer did not train on Friday morning as he is still feeling the affects of the injury knock and Enzo Maresca explained to reporters later in the afternoon that his star player could miss the match early next week.

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Palmer has been so influential for Chelsea after signing in the summer of 2023 and the 22-year-old has only missed one match for the Blues since arriving at Stamford Bridge. Playing without Palmer is fairly unchartered territory for the west Londoners but Maresca believes his squad can find a solution to the problem

"We rely on Cole because he is a big player," the Chelsea head coach said. "We prefer to play with Cole, for sure 100%, but if he has an injury, we are going to find a different solution."

What will said solution be for Chelsea when they entertain Wolves on Monday evening? Should Palmer be absent for the match, there are a few different ways Maresca can set his attacking line up...

Nkunku gets chance

There has been so much speculation about the future of Nkunku in recent days. Bayern Munich are showing a serious interest in the 27-year-old forward, football.london understands, with talks underway over a possible permanent deal in the January transfer window.

However, despite all the noise around his future, Nkunku was named in Chelsea's 20-man squad against Bournemouth. The France international was not brought on, though, despite Chelsea chasing firstly an equalising goal and then a winner.

Either way, there is a chance we see Nkunku make a rare Premier League start on Monday - especially if Palmer does not quite make it. The former RB Leipzig forward has started just three league games this season; something that is not helped by the form of Palmer.

Maresca has said on numerous occasions that he sees Nkunku at his best when is being utilised in the No.10 role behind the central striker. With Palmer usually there, though, opportunities have been few and far between for the Chelsea attacker.

Felix's knock is answered

Joao Felix has done well in recent appearances - whether that be from the start against Morecambe in the FA Cup third round, or during his late cameo in the draw with Bournemouth. The 25-year-old has been proverbially knocking on Maresca's door in recent weeks.

This could well be the likeliest option as well given Nkunku's uncertainty at the club and the recent form of Felix. Like Nkunku, the Portuguese attacker has made just three starts in the Premier League and they have all come from the left wing, where he has not perhaps got involved as much as he would have from a free role in the middle.

It does seem as if it will be a direct swap for Palmer - whether that is Nkunku or Felix. And whether it is the Frenchman or the Portuguese, this represents a huge opportunity for them to lay down a marker in the Premier League.