Cole Palmer injury return reality clear as Chelsea handed boost in fresh hint

• Chelsea
• Chelsea News
• Cole Palmer

The latest on the fitness of Cole Palmer with Chelsea hopeful the 23-year-old will be able to return to action later in the month after a lengthy absence because of a groin injury

Chelsea are hopeful Cole Palmer will return to action later in the month with a double-header against Barcelona and Arsenal being targeted for the 23-year-old.

Enzo Maresca has been without Palmer for almost two months at the time of writing due to a persistent groin injury that has plagued the England international's season up until this point. Before Chelsea's draw with Qarabag last week, Maresca said: "We hope so [Palmer will be fit for the visit of Barcelona on November 25], but with Cole we try to plan, we try to schedule, you know at the beginning, and then we need to review that.

"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."

Chelsea take on Burnley once the international break has concluded, just a few days before welcoming Barca to Stamford Bridge. Palmer is not expected to be fit for the trip to Turf Moor next weekend, and even if he was, it is unlikely he would be risked ahead of back-to-back matches with Barca and Arsenal in the space of a few days.

However, there was no sign of Palmer in training in fresh pictures that were released by the club on Thursday evening. A selection of images from Cobham were uploaded to the club's website of those not on international duty working on the grass on Thursday, but there was no indication that Palmer took part in the session.

Benoit Badiashile was there, though, with the French defender taking part in partial team training, football.london understands, ahead of his reintegration into the squad. The 24-year-old has been missing since the start of last month with a muscular injury but is in contention to make next weekend's squad in Burnley.

As reported earlier in the week, Badiashile is yet to return to full team training in Cobham but that could happen next week as his return gets closer. There was, however, no sign of Pedro Neto or Enzo Fernandez in training on Thursday.

The Blues duo pulled out of the Portugal and Argentina squads, respectively, before the international break due to injury. Neto and Fernandez have stayed behind in the UK as they look to recover to full fitness.