Cole Palmer has huge issue he must immediately fix on Chelsea injury return

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Cole Palmer has not played for Chelsea since September 20 and the Blues attacker has plenty to put right when he does return, with the club hoping it will be this month

Cole Palmer being absent for almost two months has not really impacted Chelsea too much - to the untrained eye, anyway. The 23-year-old, however, might have already seen an impact to his World Cup hopes next summer.

Palmer has made just one appearance for England since Thomas Tuchel was appointed manager in October 2024. The former Chelsea head coach took charge officially - in his first national team job - on January 1 of this year, and it has been an emphatic start for the German.

Eight victories from his opening nine matches as England boss has brought back the feel-good factor within the camp, but only one of those games included Palmer. The Chelsea attacker has struggled with his fitness in 2025, particularly at the start of this season, and was forced to withdraw from Tuchel's first squad as Three Lions boss.

Since then, Palmer has been injured for the three following squads. A persistent groin injury has massively frustrated the England international, who scored in the Euro 2024 final defeat to Spain in Berlin, in the early parts of this season. Enzo Maresca has detailed how the injury is complex and one that requires a lot of care and thought from Chelsea.

No surgery is required, though, and the aim is for Palmer to be back on the pitch later this month for the Blues. England conclude their World Cup qualifying campaign on Sunday evening away in Albania, meaning there is just one international break before the squad for the tournament is announced.

England play two friendly fixtures in March 2026, and a couple more in June. The two in early-June will be after Tuchel's squad is announced, so Palmer will be targeting that March international break to restore his place in the manager's thinking.

The Three Lions, though, are blessed with talented and in-form attacking options right now. Bukayo Saka continues to fire for club and country, as do the likes of Morgan Rogers and Marcus Rashford. Eberechi Eze has made a really strong impression this season for Arsenal as well as England. Not to mention Noni Madueke, who is absent at the moment but was starring for his country before suffering his injury. Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden have recently been reintegrated into the England setup, also, and both came on in the comfortable victory over Serbia on Thursday evening.

It is a big challenge for Palmer. From being England's only scorer in a major tournament final last year to not being part of the manager's plan seems unthinkable but game time is an absolute must for the Chelsea attacker in the coming months.

From Palmer's point of view, he has never been short of confidence when it comes to his own ability. The only potential issue for the Blues' No.10 is his fitness and whether he can shake off this persistent groin problem.

Tuchel is spoiled for choice when it comes to attacking talent but the England boss mustn't forget perhaps the most influential of them all in Palmer.