Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has revealed that Cole Palmer is likely to miss England’s World Cup qualifiers against Albania and Latvia due to a muscle injury.

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Palmer suffered the injury during training and was unavailable for Chelsea’s 1-0 loss to Arsenal on Sunday.

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This was the first time Chelsea played without him since April last year, when they suffered a 5-0 defeat to Arsenal.

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Maresca believes it is unlikely that Palmer will be able to join Thomas Tuchel’s England squad.

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“I don’t think [he will be fit for England] to be honest,” Maresca said after the Arsenal defeat.

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“His injury is from yesterday’s session. It’s a muscular problem…

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“He needs a scan and the scan is planned for Monday morning.”

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As well as Parker, Chelsea were also without striker Nicolas Jackson and winger Noni Madueke on Sunday – and Maresca rued the absent trio.

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“It’s a huge difference. The three players who have the most goals for us [are] Cole Palmer, Nicolas Jackson and Noni Madueke, none of them were inside the pitch,” Maresca said.

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“Two of them it’s already long term that they have been out. It’s normal that offensively that we can struggle a little bit.

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“I think even until today we are second or third best attacking in the league. We’re doing well with the other players but we could do better with the players that are in this moment injured.”

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Palmer has been involved in 20 of Chelsea’s 53 league goals this season, scoring 14 and assisting six. However, he has not found the back of the net in his last seven Premier League matches.

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Maresca believes that taking a break could help him regain his top form.

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“We don’t wish for a player’s injury but in Cole’s case at this moment, probably give him some rest physically and mentally it could be good,” added Maresca.

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England play Albania on Friday in their first match under new head coach Tuchel as they start their qualification campaign for the World Cup in 2026, before playing Latvia at Wembley.

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