Chelsea received a timely lift ahead of Saturday’s Premier League home clash with Everton, with manager Enzo Maresca confirming that Cole Palmer is available for selection. The news comes at a crucial moment for the club, which is searching for its first league win since last month and aiming to halt a run of four matches without victory.
Palmer’s availability is being viewed as a major positive for Chelsea, not only because of his individual quality but also because of what he represents for a side trying to regain confidence and consistency. The attacking midfielder has recently returned from a six-week absence caused by groin issues and a broken toe, and his careful reintegration has been closely managed by the coaching staff.
“(Palmer) is okay. He’s better. He is, at the moment, available… yesterday he finished the session with us with mixed feelings. But overall he’s fine,” Maresca told reporters on Friday.
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Cole Palmer’s Presence Offers Creative Spark to Chelsea
Palmer was left out of Chelsea’s midweek Champions League trip to Atalanta as part of his recovery process, a decision that underlined the club’s long-term approach to his fitness. While Chelsea suffered a loss in that match, the focus now shifts back to domestic matters, where Palmer’s creativity and composure could make a decisive difference.
Chelsea has struggled to convert promising spells into results in recent weeks, and Palmer’s return adds a layer of attacking balance that has been missing. His ability to link midfield and attack, find space in tight areas, and contribute in key moments is expected to give Chelsea a sharper edge against an Everton side that is likely to test their patience.
The availability of Palmer is further boosted by the return of defender Wesley Fofana, who was forced off against Atalanta with an eye injury but has now been cleared.
“Wesley is fine. He completed the session yesterday,” Maresca confirmed.
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Mixed Team News as Delap Faces Spell Out
While Palmer and Fofana’s fitness brings optimism, Chelsea will be without striker Liam Delap for the coming weeks. Delap suffered a shoulder injury during last weekend’s goalless draw at Bournemouth, and Maresca admitted the timeline for his return remains uncertain.
“It can be two, three or four weeks. We don’t know exactly how many days he needs,” he said.
Chelsea currently sits fifth in the Premier League, a position that reflects both the promise and frustration of its season so far. Earlier in the campaign, the team enjoyed a strong run, winning nine of 11 matches in all competitions between late September and November. That stretch included eye-catching performances and results, but recent weeks have seen momentum stall.
Maresca believes the challenge now is consistency.
“Consistency was the next step,” he said. “How do we do that, it’s just one week, it’s not a long time, but for sure when something happens, the next game you are more prepared and you can avoid that.”
He added, “In terms of human beings, it’s impossible to be at the same level for the whole season but we need to learn things for the future.”
As Chelsea prepares to face Everton, Palmer’s availability stands out as a genuine boost. For a team seeking renewed belief and attacking fluency, his return could be the spark needed to turn promise into points.
