Cole Palmer injury update as Chelsea face anxious wait for Premier League clash

Cole Palmer of Chelsea (Image: Getty Images)

Cole Palmer was not present during Chelsea's latest training session on Tuesday, after picking up a groin injury before last Friday's thumping win at West Ham .

Palmer, 23, had been named on Enzo Maresca's teamsheet to face the Hammers in the 8pm kick-off, only to have to be withdrawn from the XI after injuring himself in the warm-up.

He was spotted walking off and down the tunnel alongside fitness coach Marcos Alvarez. Maresca told Sky Sports reporter David Craig that Palmer "felt something" and his absence was "precautionary".

However, there is some doubt about whether Palmer is going to be available for Chelsea's next Premier League outing against Fulham on Saturday. The Blues face Marco Silva's Whites at Stamford Bridge.

And further concern has been put on Palmer's fitness for the Fulham game after it was confirmed that he wasn't out on the grass with the rest of his Chelsea teammates at Cobham on Tuesday morning.

Sky Sports reported that Palmer had been left inside doing his own individual work and Chelsea want to take it easy as the England international tries to recover and get back to full fitness as soon as possible.

Speaking in his press conference after the West Ham win, Maresca said: "Cole, in the last four or five days, was not 100 per cent. Today, he tried to warm up, but he felt something. So we prefer not to take any risk to get worse.

"Already probably [the] Palace game that he was not 100 per cent. But he is trying to make a big effort for the club, for the team, for the fans. Tonight, he tried again. But it was not very good."

Palmer's absence didn't prove to be an issue for Chelsea, who thrashed the Hammers 5-1 to record their first Premier League win of the season. After a goalless draw against Crystal Palace on the opening weekend, the Blues were determined to bounce back and they did so in ruthless fashion.

Although Lucas Paqeuta put West Ham in front, the Blues responded with Joao Pedro, Pedro Neto, Enzo Fernandez, Moises Caicedo and Trevoh Chalobah scoring for Maresca's side at the London Stadium.

"Yes, very happy, very impressed, especially because we didn't start in the right way," Maresca said. "Cole [Palmer] injury, conceding after five minutes, but the reaction was very good."