Enzo Maresca provides Cole Palmer fitness update after half time substitution vs Legia Warsaw | OneFootball

Enzo Maresca has played down any injury fears surrounding Cole Palmer after he was substituted at half time against Legia Warsaw on Thursday night.

Palmer returned to the starting line-up after being on the bench for last weekend’s draw against Brentford, to start for just the second time in the Conference League.

The England international had a quiet evening as Chelsea put in a poor first half display, before improving in the second half and running out comfortable 3-0 winners thanks to a brace from Noni Madueke and a first Blues goal for Tyrique George.

Maresca plays down Palmer injury concerns

Palmer now hasn’t scored for Chelsea since the 2-2 draw with Bournemouth in January and his substitution at half time led to fears he may have picked up an injury having been forced to pull out of the England squad last month with a hamstring issue.

However, Maresca played down those injury fears as he admitted after the game the substitution was pre-planned.

Palmer hasn’t scored for Chelsea since January. (Photo by Eddie Keogh/Getty Images)

“No, no, no, we planned for him and for Tosin 45 minutes so everything was planned,” he told his post-match press conference.

That will be a huge relief for Chelsea fans as despite his recent struggles Palmer is still very much Chelsea’s go to man in terms of attacking threat.

The 22-year-old has 14 league goals this season, and is Chelsea’s highest scorer, but he’s been going through a difficult period of late.

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Maresca gave a confusing reason as to why he didn’t start against Brentford, but you’d fully expect to see him in the line-up for Sunday’s must win game against Ipswich at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea face a difficult end to the season with some tough fixtures and if they are to achieve their goals of Champions League football and winning the Conference League they will need Palmer to rediscover his best form from earlier in the campaign.