Enzo Maresca gives injury update on Cole Palmer and four other Chelsea players before Brighton

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Chelsea go into this weekend’s match against Brighton with a mixed bag of injury news.

The Blues host Brighton on Saturday afternoon in the Premier League, which is a fixture between 6th and 14th in the division table at this early stage of the season.

It feels like an important game for Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca because his team have just one win in four games across all competitions since returning from the international break. However, they are finally back playing at Stamford Bridge for the first time in September.

Paul Merson claims that Maresca will be under pressure if Chelsea drop more points against Brighton.

• READ MORE: Peter Crouch and Steve Sidwell make different predictions for Chelsea vs Brighton

Enzo Maresca gives major injury update

On Friday morning, Chelsea boss Maresca provided several bits of information regarding injuries in his pre-match press conference for the Brighton fixture.

First of all, it has been confirmed that Blues playmaker Cole Palmer will be absent against Brighton and the remaining fixtures before October’s international break because of his groin injury.

On Palmer, Maresca said via Football.London: “We decided to protect a little bit Cole in terms of his injuries not getting worse. We decided to rest him for the next two or three weeks before the international break to see if he can recover 100% and be fully fit from the international break. I don’t think he needs surgery. It’s a matter of managing his pain in his groin, with the amount of games, it is something that can happen.”

On top of that, Chelsea defenders Tosin Adarabioyo and Wesley Fofana have respective issues.

Maresca explained: “We have Tosin injured and will probably be out until international break. He has a small problem in his calf. Wes Fofana had concussion against Lincoln.”

The positive news is that Romeo Lavia and Benoit Badiashile could finally be back from their injuries. Maresca said: “Romeo and Benoit are better. We will see if they can join us tomorrow.”

The Chelsea games Cole Palmer will miss

Unfortunately, Chelsea play a few key matches before the next international break, which they will need to do without Palmer’s brilliance in attack.

Palmer, who finished eighth in the Ballon d’Or, is the outstanding individual at Stamford Bridge. Therefore, it is a major blow to miss him for these difficult upcoming fixtures, including against Premier League title holders Liverpool.

It is now going to be on others within the squad to step up and fill the huge void he leaves, both as a creator and goalscorer.