Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has offered a Jadon Sancho and Cole Palmer injury update ahead of Thursday’s Europa Conference League fixture at Stamford Bridge.
The manager said he is hopeful that both players will be available for Sunday’s massive clash with Arsenal in the Premier League.
However, he confirmed neither will feature on Thursday against Armenian side Noah.
Palmer is not registered for the Conference League group stage, and picked up a knock against Manchester United at the weekend.
The England international will be monitored ahead of Arsenal on Sunday, but the manager hopes to have his star man available.
Twenty-two-year-old Palmer did not train on Tuesday, but is expected to take some part in Wednesday’s sessions.
Jadon Sancho, meanwhile, will also miss out against Noah. The on-loan winger was ineligible to face parent club Man United at the weekend, and continues to recover from illness.
Like Palmer, it is hoped Sancho will also be back in the squad against the Gunners on Sunday.
Enzo Maresca Offers Jadon Sancho And Cole Palmer Injury Update
Speaking during the press conference ahead of Thursday’s match, Maresca confirmed the absence of both players from his midweek squad.
He said: “Cole didn’t train yesterday so we will see today if he can train with us.
“We hope [he will be available for Sunday]. We need to wait and see and then decide.
“Jadon is recovering from illness but he also had a knock in a session. Tomorrow he is out but we will see if he can be available for Sunday’s game, otherwise it will be after the international break for him.
‘That is it, the rest are all available apart from those players not involved in the Conference League squad.”
Aside from Palmer and Sancho, Maresca has a mostly-fit squad to choose from. Wesley Fofana and Romeo Lavia are the only other absentees, with the manager likely to make a raft of changes for the visit of Noah.
Chelsea Boss Explains Rotation Policy Ahead Of Europa League Clash
Maresca confirmed he would shake up the squad for the midweek match, but explained he was not rotating for the sake of it.
He added: “We don’t make changes just because of a big game on Sunday.”
“Since the start of the season, we make changes because we have 24 or 25 players all fit and good enough to play in different competitions. This is why we are making changes and probably tomorrow we are making changes too.”
“Just because someone plays in the Premier League, that doesn’t mean they won’t play in the Conference League. And the same goes for those who have been playing in the Conference League, they will still play in the Premier League.
“We have so many games in a long, hard season so for sure players will play across the Premier League, the Conference League, Carabao Cup and the FA Cup.
“We try to use all of these players because we will need them over the season.”
Chelsea’s Europa Conference League match against FC Noah kicks off at 8:00pm on Thursday at Stamford Bridge.
The Blues then host Arsenal at 4:30pm on Sunday afternoon.
