Cole Palmer sidelined as Chelsea gear up for Fulham clash

The Blues, who have kicked off the season with a win and a draw, are coming off a commanding 5-1 thrashing of West Ham United, following a frustrating 0-0 stalemate against Crystal Palace. This match marks the third in a run of four consecutive London derbies in the league for the FIFA Club World Cup champions.

Maresca revealed during his pre-match press conference that Palmer, who netted an impressive 18 goals last season, remains sidelined with a nagging groin injury.

The 23-year-old missed Chelsea's recent rout of West Ham and will not feature against Fulham. "When Cole is not available, we need to adapt and find different ways to play," Maresca said. "We managed it last week, and hopefully, we can do it again tomorrow."

The injury also led to Palmer's exclusion from England's squad for the upcoming international break, a decision made by national team boss Thomas Tuchel.

Maresca, who has been in regular contact with Tuchel, offered no clear timeline for Palmer's return, stating, "Cole's situation is day by day. We'll assess him as we go."

Adding to Chelsea's injury woes, Maresca confirmed that midfielder Romeo Lavia and defender Benoit Badiashile are also out and unlikely to return until after the international break. "Romeo and Benoit are progressing, but they're not quite there yet," he said. "They're closer, but we'll likely see them back post-internationals."

On the transfer front, Chelsea are poised to make a significant move before the window closes, with Manchester United's Alejandro Garnacho heavily linked to the club. Reports suggest a fee in the range of 35 to 40 million pounds is being discussed for the dynamic winger.

Maresca remained coy but hinted at Garnacho's presence at Chelsea's training ground, saying, "I know he's been around. He's a winger, and that's how we see him contributing."

The manager also left the door open for further deals, with Raheem Sterling among those rumored to depart. "With the transfer window still open, anything can happen, both ins and outs," Maresca said.

Reflecting on his tenure, Maresca expressed confidence in his squad's development. "When I joined a year ago, I said I loved this group, and it's only gotten stronger," he said. "The feeling hasn't changed."

Chelsea will look to maintain their momentum against Fulham, leaning on their depth to compensate for the absence of key players like Palmer. Fans will be eager to see if the Blues can keep their attacking flair alive in this heated London derby.