Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca says Cole Palmer is being assessed on a day-to-day basis as he manages a groin problem that has hampered him so far this season.
The 23-year-old played the whole game and scored against Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Wednesday night and then started at Old Trafford against Manchester United on Saturday.
That trip to Manchester proved to be something of a disaster for the Blues, though, with goalkeeper Robert Sanchez sent off, Palmer subbed off after just 21 minutes due to injury and the game ending in a 2-1 defeat.
The sight of Palmer limping out of the contest so early is a huge concern for Chelsea fans and Maresca admits it was a risk to play him as he was not fully fit before the game.
Palmer is trying to play through pain and will continue to do so, with the Blues boss playing down the likelihood of surgery on the injury.
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Speaking at a press conference ahead of Tuesday’s Carabao Cup clash with Lincoln City, Maresca said: ‘Cole is probably the only one that we need to assess a little bit. The rest are okay, just recovering from last week.
‘He did already a huge effort last Saturday to try and play the game. He tried Saturday morning, he was not 100 per cent but he wants to be there to help teammates in that kind of game.
‘It was painful so we decided to change. We await day-by-day to see how he is and then decide what we do.’
On the possibility of Palmer needing an operation, the Italian said: ‘The medical staff didn’t mention to me about surgery until today. I don’t know if it will be in the next weeks, but I don’t think so to be honest.’
After starring for Chelsea as they won the Club World Cup in July, it has been a frustrating start to the new campaign for the former Manchester City player.
His brief outing against Manchester United was just his third Premier League appearance out of Chelsea’s five games.
He scored after coming off the bench against Brentford earlier this month and played well in the 3-1 loss to Bayern Munich, but his fitness looks set to be an ongoing headache for Maresca.
Obviously it is extremely unlikely that he will feature against Lincoln on Tuesday night, with Chelsea back in Premier League action on Saturday at home to Brighton.
On other injury issues, Maresca added: ‘Cole is one, and then we have some players who have had problems for a long time like Moises Caicedo and Joao Pedro.
‘They are trying to manage it a little bit themselves, but then the rest are okay.’
