Chelsea have been given a well-timed boost before they go back to Premier League competition against Burnley, with Cole Palmer and Malo Gusto seen practicing earlier today.
Mauricio Pochettino was anxious about Palmer’s fitness after the 21-year-old was unable to play in England’s Euro 2024 warm-up match against Brazil due to a minor injury.
After moving from Manchester City for £42.5million in the summer, Palmer has been one of Chelsea’s few bright spots in a mostly disappointing season, scoring 11 goals and providing eight assists in the English top flight.
And while Gareth Southgate said Palmer was in the running for England’s second friendly with Belgium, the young player didn’t get to play as Jude Bellingham saved the Three Lions with a draw at Wembley.
But Palmer was seen training at Cobham today and it looks like he could be set to play this Saturday when Chelsea hosts Vincent Kompany’s struggling Burnley at Stamford Bridge.
Malo Gusto also trained as usual to dispel doubts about his fitness after the 20-year-old returned early from international duty last week.
The young right-back, who has impressed in Reece James’ absence at Chelsea this season, caught a virus and missed the France Under-23s’ matches with the Ivory Coast and the United States.
Pochettino is expected to give an update on the pair at his pre-match press conference on Friday, with the Blues aiming for three wins from three in all competitions at home to Premier League strugglers Burnley.
It’s not all positive news for Chelsea on the injury front, however, with £60m summer signing Romeo Lavia ruled out for the rest of the season earlier today.
The midfielder suffered a thigh injury against Crystal Palace back in December and has had a major setback in his recovery.
Earlier this month, Pochettino lamented the loss of Lavia and said the Belgian was ‘supposed to be a very good player’.
After switching from 4-2-3-1 to a 3-5-2 formation versus Brentford, the Chelsea manager said he had to make the change due to the extended absence of midfielders like Lavia.
‘It was to try and give the team a different way to play and to have an alternative in the way to use,’ Pochettino explained.
‘We needed to give the midfield the possibility not to cover too much distance. [Conor] Gallagher didn’t start against Leeds because he was very, very tired.
‘Because players like Lavia were supposed to be very good players, and of course Lesley Ugochukwu.
‘They are injured and we don’t have the possibility to refresh players that are in a key area. That is why to help them with another centre-back.
‘It’s always keeping our ideas moving forward, but to try and provide them with more solidity and differences in transition and give them more freedom and less responsibility.’
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