Chelsea have received a timely boost with Cole Palmer returning to training as the club’s recent sickness bug begins to ease.
Speaking ahead of Chelsea’s next fixture, head coach Liam Rosenior confirmed that several players had been affected by illness in recent days, forcing changes to the club’s training plans.
However, he said the situation is now improving, with players gradually returning to full health.
Chelsea injury – and illness updates
“In terms of sickness, the players are coming back gradually,” Rosenior explained. “We’ve had to be very careful with that.”
Rosenior revealed that Estevao and Jamie Gittens were among the worst affected, while Enzo Fernandez also battled illness during the week.
The disruption altered Chelsea’s preparations, but the head coach was encouraged by how the squad responded.
One of the biggest positives was Palmer’s return to training. The England international joined the group session and will now be monitored closely as Chelsea manage his recovery.
“Cole [Palmer] is in a good place,” Rosenior said. “He joined training today, which is really positive. We’ll assess his reaction to training.”
There was also an update on goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen, who recently underwent a scan.
It was confirmed the injury was not as serious as first feared. While Jorgensen will miss the upcoming match against Crystal Palace, he could potentially return in time to face Napoli.
Rosenior insists Palmer is happy at the club
Rosenior was keen to address speculation around Palmer’s mood and future at the club, insisting the midfielder remains very happy at Stamford Bridge.
He explained that recent frustration seen on the pitch was linked to physical discomfort rather than dissatisfaction.
“I’ve had numerous conversations with Cole and he seems very, very happy to be here,” Rosenior said. “He’s a huge part of our plans in the long-term.”
The Chelsea boss stressed the importance of managing Palmer carefully following injury setbacks. He admitted the decision to leave him out of the previous match was taken to protect the player and avoid long-term issues.
“There was frustration in the Brentford game, not because he isn’t happy here, just because he was in pain and he couldn’t perform to the level he wanted to for the club,” Rosenior added.
Rosenior underlined his commitment to rotating the squad and prioritising player welfare during a busy January period. He believes careful management now will help Chelsea compete later in the season.
“We’re in January,” he said. “I want to make sure we come through this period, with wins, but also with our players in full health and Cole is one of those players.”
With Palmer back on the training pitch and the sickness bug easing, Chelsea will hope to build momentum as they navigate a demanding stretch of the campaign.
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