Chelsea have Cole Palmer and Nicolas Jackson back in the starting XI for tonight’s Premier League visit of Tottenham.
Palmer missed the 1-0 defeat by Arsenal before the international break with what was described as a minor muscle injury and pulled out of England duty as a result.
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It was the first game the playmaker had missed in the Premier League all season, but he returned to training last week. So, too, did Noni Madueke and Jackson, who have each been sidelined with hamstring problems.
Madueke was forced off early in February’s 3-0 defeat away at Brighton, while Jackson has not played since picking up his injury in the home win over West Ham on transfer deadline day two months ago.
Speaking on Wednesday, Enzo Maresca confirmed: “Cole is back, he’s okay, he’s better. Noni is better, Nico is better. They are all good.”
Pedro Neto has been deputising as a No9 but returns to the wing, with Christopher Nkunku losing his place.
Meanwhile, the timing of the FA Cup quarter-finals has eased Chelsea’s usual post-international break headache, with first-choice midfield pair Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez having had sufficient time to recover from their trips to South America. That pair continue, with Maresca revealing that Romeo Lavia has suffered another injury setback and misses out.
Confirmed team news
Chelsea XI: Sanchez, Gusto, Chalobah, Colwill, Cucurella, Caicedo, Fernandez (c), Neto, Palmer, Sancho, Jackson
Subs: Jorgensen, Acheampong, Badiashile, Tosin, James, Dewsbury-Hall, George, Madueke, Nkunku
