EPL: Maresca confirms Palmer’s return, says star needs time to hit 100%

Chelsea head coach, Enzo Maresca, has confirmed that Cole Palmer has returned to action, describing the England international as “probably our best player.”

Speaking ahead of Chelsea’s upcoming fixture, Maresca expressed delight at Palmer’s recovery but stressed the need for patience as he regains full sharpness.

Fabrizio Romano’s X post on Friday quoted Maresca as saying, “Palmer is back, and he’s probably our best player. We are happy he’s back”.

“Now we need to give him time to be 100% match fit.”

Speaking on the possibility of Cole Palmer and Estêvão starting in a game, he said both players can feature, but depends on the opposition and tactical plan.

“Palmer and Estêvão can play together, for sure.

“It depends on which team and the game plan. But for sure, they, and the fans, are excited. We are excited,” he said.

The comments signal Maresca’s willingness to experiment with attacking options as Chelsea look to find the right balance in their lineup.

PUNCH Online had reported that Palmer will miss two Premier League games and the Champions League clash with Barcelona next week after fracturing a toe.

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