Atalanta Handed Boost Against Chelsea as Cole Palmer Skips Training

Two separate groin problems, followed by a freak accident at home which injured his toe, has ruled out Cole Palmer for the nearly the entirety of the season up to this point.

Having featured for a mere 300 minutes across the campaign, Palmer’s long-awaited return to the starting line-up came against Bournemouth last time out, before being hooked just before the hour mark.

Cole Palmer Injury Update

As per UEFA’s rules, part of Chelsea’s Monday training session was open to the media, and Palmer was a notable absentee, despite making his comeback over the weekend.

For a player who has already missed 16 games this season, fans were understandably frustrated with fears of another setback creeped in as the news trickled out.

However, Enzo Maresca has eased any suggestions that Palmer’s recovery has hit another bump, and instead assured fans that he is being eased back into action to avoid any relapses.

“Cole is part of his process in this moment, he’s not available, he can’t play two games in a row in three days,” Maresca stated.

“So we’ve planned that and it’s just a way to protect him.”

Another game without Palmer is a blow for Chelsea, who must try and overcome Atalanta’s astonishing clean sheet ratio in the Champions League, but also rid themselves their torrid form away from home of late.

Chelsea Will Also Be Without Liam Delap vs Atalanta

As Palmer eased his way back into the fold against Bournemouth, another Chelsea casualty replaced him on the sidelines as Liam Delap appeared to suffer a serious shoulder injury.

Maresca was also able to provide a positive update on the Englishman, whose injury isn’t as severe as initially thought.

“Yeah, Liam fortunately is not any fracture, so that is good news. Now for how long he will be out, not sure to be honest.”

It is likely Maresca will call upon an attacking trio of Joao Pedro, Jamie Gittens and Chelsea’s Champions League top scorer Estevao, whose three goals is the joint-most a teenager has scored for a Premier League side in a single campaign, level with Wayne Rooney in 2004-05.

Atalanta’s Injury List Remains Relatively Clean Ahead of Chelsea

As for the hosts, Raffaele Palladino can call upon a near full-strength side against Chelsea on Tuesday.

Kamaldeen Sulemana (muscle) and Mitchel Bakker (ACL) remain their only long-term absentees, while ex-Chelsea defender Davide Zappacosta faces a race against time to be fit enough for a reunion, with Nicola Zalewski likely to deputise in his stead.

Predicted Line-Ups

Chelsea: Sanchez; Gusto, Acheampong, Chalobah, Hato; Caicedo, Santos; Estevao, Fernandez, Gittens; Pedro

Atalanta: Carnesecchi; Kossounou, Hien, Djimsiti; Bellanova, Ederson, Pasalic, Zalewski; De Ketelaere, Lookman; Scamacca