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Chelsea have found success on the pitch in recent weeks, despite the absence of their talisman Cole Palmer.
Wayne Rooney has suggested that Chelsea have not felt the absence of Cole Palmer on the pitch, with results continuing to speak for themselves after the 3-0 win over Barcelona. The midfielder has missed Chelsea's last 13 matches across all competitions due to a groin and then toe problem.
Palmer was first side-lined with a groin injury picked up during September's defeat to Manchester United. The medical staff opted to prioritise a full recovery, resting him rather than managing the ongoing pain.
As a result, he spent two months limited to gym work before returning to outdoor training at Cobham. But his teammates have coped just fine without their star player.
Chelsea are second in the Premier League and claimed their third consecutive win in the Champions League against the Catalan giants on Tuesday night. Estevao and Liam Delap found the net for the hosts - while Jules Kounde gifted them an own goal.
The improvement is clear, with pundit Rooney observing on Amazon Prime: "We haven't even mentioned Cole Palmer tonight. That's how well Chelsea played."
During a pre-match press conference on Monday, manager Enzo Maresca confirmed the 22-year-old is close to rejoining the squad, after his recent return to training, though he did not provide a timeframe for his comeback.
The 23-year-old is already out on the pitch and working with a ball again.
"Yeah, we don't know when, but for sure, it will be soon," Maresca said on Monday. "He is already on the pitch, touching the ball, and the feeling is good."
However, his availability for the London derby with Arsenal remains uncertain.
"We are here for tomorrow's game and, after that, we will see about the Arsenal game," the Italian boss added.
"The last time I spoke with Cole was after the session yesterday to see how he was feeling. But I didn't ask him for details about the injury at all."
Chelsea's focus now turns to the Premier League where they have the chance to close the gap on leaders Arsenal on Sunday afternoon (4.30pm).
Six points currently separates the sides, while Manchester City sit third spot, one point behind the Blues.
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