The unusual way Enzo Maresca found out about freak Cole Palmer injury - 'It's always bad news'

Cole Palmer will miss at least the next three games for Chelsea with the 23-year-old attacker fracturing a toe on his left foot in a bizarre accident while at home

Cole Palmer will miss at least Chelsea's next three matches after fracturing a toe when he stubbed it on a door.

The bizarre injury leaves head coach Enzo Maresca without his star attacking player for upcoming matches against Burnley, Barcelona and Arsenal in the space of eight days. Palmer was recovering from a groin injury that has kept him out of action for two months and was due to return to training on Thursday, but a freak incident at home means the 23-year-old's time on the sidelines has been extended.

"He's not available for tomorrow for sure, Barcelona, for sure, Arsenal, for sure," Maresca said. "Unfortunately he had an accident at home two days ago and he hit his toe. It's nothing important, but for sure he's not back next week.

"It can happen. I wake up many times during the night to go to the toilet. I hit my head, my legs, my everything, so it can happen."

Palmer stubbed a toe on his left foot on his door and Maresca was informed by the club doctor late in the evening, while next to his wife.

"It was 11 o'clock at night," explained the Chelsea head coach. "When you receive a message from the doctor at 11 o'clock at night, it's always bad news.

"I saw my mobile, it was the doctor, and he just said, 'Cole has had an accident at home'. I was next to my wife. I said, 'Oh my god!'. My wife was saying, 'What's happened? What's happened?'. It's like this. I'm not joking, I'm serious."

Chelsea have only been beaten once in 11 matches in all competitions since Palmer limped off with a groin injury on September 20 at Manchester United. The Blues have won eight times in that 11-game period, drawn twice and only been beaten once.

Maresca has admitted he is proud of how his players have coped without the England international, who is so often their talisman, and has also compared Palmer being out to what it would be like if Manchester City or Liverpool lost Erling Haaland or Mohamed Salah.

"I'm very proud," Maresca said. "Because for us, Cole is like Haaland for City, like Salah for Liverpool, and I guess if Haaland doesn’t play for City or Salah for Liverpool, they are not the same team.

"I'm very proud of the players because, in a difficult moment without Cole, they showed that they are good players and they all want the best for this club."

Chelsea take on Burnley this afternoon without Palmer, but have been boosted by the return of Benoit Badiashile, while Pedro Neto and Enzo Fernandez have been declared fit after pulling out of their international squads. The Blues could go as high as second in the Premier League table with three points against the Clarets, as Manchester City play later on Saturday.