Chelsea have 'real concern' about Cole Palmer, one injury is affecting him badly

Chelsea have concerns about Cole Palmer's long-term injury issues after he opted to pull out of the latest England squad.

The 24-year-old struggled with recurring issues throughout last season which saw him miss 25 games for club and country, and have lef to worries about his fitness.

Almost all of his injuries in recent seasons have been muscle issues, particularly a groin problem which he seemingly has not been able to entirely shake off.

Former Man United chief scout Mick Brown told Football Insider that Palmer's injuries have been a worry for his club who are now not prepared to take any risks.

The midfielder's decision to withdraw from the England squad came as he plans to manage his playing time and not to overwork himself due to the risk of further issues.

However, that could be a problem for Chelsea long-term, as they aim to be successful across all competitions which means playing two games per week for a significant period.

Why are Chelsea concerned about Cole Palmer?

Former Everton CEO Keith Wyness told Football Insider that Palmer's withdrawal from the England squad was largely encouraged by Chelsea and by Xabi Alonso.

The Blues are keen to keep their star man away from playing "meaningless games" which could put extra strain on his body and lead to a downturn in his club performances.

Having already seen big-name players including the likes of Bruno Fernandes, Kai Havertz and Brian Brobbey suffer injuries on international duty, they may be proved right.

"Palmer's injuries are going to be a real concern for Chelsea," Brown told Football Insider.

"Regardless of whether you believe he is actually injured at the moment and that's why he's not playing for England, it's clear he has struggled with issues over the last year.

"He had that groin injury which I'm not sure he's been able to shake off, and a few other muscle injuries as well which are not good signs.

"From a Chelsea point of view, you want him to be available as often as possible because he's the one who can make a difference when they're struggling in games.

"If they've pulled him out of the England squad to manage his workload, then you have to question how they'll cope when he has to play two, three games a week.

"It has to be something they're worried about, because they're not willing to take any risks and have him missing out on another long spell."

How does Thomas Tuchel feel about Palmer's absence?

Despite Chelsea's ongoing concerns about Palmer's fitness, injuries and long-term availability, his decision to withdraw from the England squad has been met with plenty of backlash.

Tuchel reacted angrily to the decision as he insisted the midfielder "misses too many opportunities" to impress and prove he deserves to wear an England shirt.

As a result, Brown told Football Insider on 28 September that Palmer may have played his last game for England under Tuchel, who has lost faith in the Chelsea star.

He last represented his country in a freindly defeat to Japan in March, but missed out on the World Cup squad, and has won just three caps since October 2024.

Having repeatedly missed camps through minor injuries, Palmer now appears to have lost the manager's confidence, while others are ahead of him in the pecking order.