Chelsea handed huge Moises Caicedo injury concern after Cole Palmer update

Enzo Maresca looks to have been handed a potentially major Chelsea injury worry with one of his key players missing an international fixture due to physical discomfort.

The Blues have been dealt a brutal hand regarding injuries so far this season with Levi Colwill's serious knee injury followed by Cole Palmer and Liam Delap suffering muscular issues. The latter pulled his hamstring in the 2-0 win over Fulham while Palmer did not even feature after pulling out of the West Ham game the previous weekend.

Maresca has provided updates on both in recent weeks with neither appearing overly optimistic. "Liam's injury doesn't look good in terms of, he was full speed, hamstring, so that required, like always, weeks," he said.

"The (Crystal) Palace game, he (Palmer) was not 100 per cent," the Chelsea boss revealed after the win against West Ham "But he is trying to make a big effort for the club, for the team, for the fans. Tonight again he tried again, but it was not very good."

In his Fulham pre-match press conferences six days later, after ruling him out, Maresca added: "Cole, we need to see day by day."

Maresca will be keen to have Palmer back available soon especially before as their Champions League campaign kicks off with a trip Bayern Munich later this month. The 23-year-old has missed the last two games but hinted he is close to returning via Instagram.

The Italian tactician has also referenced Moises Caicedo when asked about the numerous injury issues Chelsea had been dealt after featuring in and winning the Club World Cup over the summer.

"Moi today (Thursday) only had his first training session since the West Ham game," he said before the Fulham victory.

Caicedo has, however, still played every minute of competitive football since the last-16 stage of that tournament but that run ended during the early hours of Friday morning as he was absent for Ecuador's World Cup qualifier against Paraguay.

According to Ecuadorian journalist Maria Jose Flores, that was the plan all along with Caicedo never considered for a role in the clash because of physical discomfort. It has been added that he is expected to return against Argentina on Tuesday, September 9, though.

That part of the update could be both good and bad news for Chelsea. The fact he will be fit to return in just a few days is positive but it being for a huge game against the reigning world champions is the concerning part.

Chelsea's first game back from the international break is on Saturday evening away at Brentford and Maresca will hopeful that Caicedo is fit enough to start.

Story Saved

You can find this story in  My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right.