Cole Palmer injury: How long Chelsea top scorer is out for, England games he could miss and return date

Chelsea top scorer Cole Palmer was a surprise absentee from his side’s matchday squad for their visit to Arsenal in the Premier League on March 16.

Blues manager Enzo Maresca said Palmer had suffered a bad bout of illness before missing a penalty for the first time in his career as Chelsea won 1-0 at home to Leicester City a week earlier, but the 22-year-old had not been expected to miss the trip to the Emirates Stadium.

Maresca elaborated on a new issue for Palmer that ensured the talisman was absent against Arsenal and looks likely to rule him out of England’s fixtures during the international break.

Here’s what we know about Palmer’s potential return date, the matches he could miss and what happened to sideline the former Manchester City midfielder.

Cole Palmer isn’t in the @ChelseaFC matchday squad for the trip to Arsenal ❌

It’s the first time the Blues will start a Premier League match without Palmer since April 2024, when they lost 5-0 to Arsenal at the Emirates…#ARSCHE pic.twitter.com/4Ohxb6Nus3

— Premier League (@premierleague) March 16, 2025

What is Cole Palmer’s injury?

After revealing that Palmer had struggled with diarrhea before facing Leicester, Maresca joked that Palmer was “not in the toilet” when he spoke before kick-off against Arsenal.

“As we know, last week [he had] some problem,” Maresca told Sky Sports. “Unfortunately, [on Saturday] he had some very small problem.

“He had an injury during the session; it was a very light session, which is why we think it’s nothing important.”

How long will Palmer be out for and which games will he miss?

Maresca’s remarks suggest it is unlikely that Palmer will play in England’s World Cup qualifiers in March, hosting Albania on the 21st and Latvia three days later (both 7.45pm GMT).

“We think he can be back with us after the international break,” Maresca said. “We need to wait, but the feeling is that he can be back after the international break.”

Cole Palmer has created the most chances (71) and has the most expected assists (7.3) in the Premier League this season.

However, he currently ranks 10th in the assist charts (6).

Chelsea need to be more clinical. 💥 pic.twitter.com/qgK2F1fGuz

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) March 15, 2025

Palmer has two goals in 11 international caps and was named in new England manager Thomas Tuchel’s first squad on Friday.

When will Cole Palmer next play for Chelsea?

Chelsea’s first game after the break is at home to Tottenham in the Premier League on April 3 (8pm), followed by a trip to Brentford three days later (2pm).

They won 4-3 at Spurs on December 8 with the help of two Palmer penalties within 24 second-half minutes, one of which was a ‘Panenka’.