Cole Palmer drops major injury return hint as Chelsea star teases comeback

Cole Palmer is still on the sidelines recovering from a groin injury but the Chelsea star has teased that a return may be on the cards in the near future

Cole Palmer has dropped a potential injury hint as Chelsea wait for the playmaker's return to full fitness.

Palmer has been sidelined for several weeks with a groin injury that has forced the England international to miss the last 11 matches for the Blues.

The 23-year-old's last match for Chelsea came against Manchester United on September 20 in the Premier League, with Palmer still recovering from the issue as the Blues went into the November international break.

Injury has restricted Palmer to making just four appearances for Chelsea this season, with Enzo Maresca keen to have the Ballon d'Or nominee back in the matchday squad as soon as possible.

Chelsea are back in Premier League action this weekend as they face an away trip to Turf Moor to take on Burnley.

Ahead of the fixture, Palmer has dropped a hint that a return from injury may not be too far away.

In a post on his Instagram story, Palmer posted a photo to his 8.4 million followers, which showed him in the Chelsea dressing room accompanied by two egg timer emojis.

This could be interpreted as a hint that Palmer could be on the verge of making his long-awaited return from injury for Chelsea.

Maresca has regularly provided updates on Palmer's return to full fitness, with the latest message suggesting that the 23-year-old could be available in the not-too-distant future.

"So in this moment, we go day by day with Cole. He's [still] not taking any session with the team," Maresca said earlier this month.

"To be honest, I would like to have Cole here tomorrow. I would like to have Cole early. I said many times that we are a better team with Cole. Unfortunately for us, he's out, he's injured, but for sure we want him back very soon."

After taking on Burnley in the Premier League, Chelsea will have two important matches, both in the Premier League and the Champions League.

The Blues will take on Barcelona in the Champions League before hosting Arsenal at Stamford Bridge in the English top flight a few days later, and it remains to be seen if Palmer will be available for either fixture.