Cole Palmer believes he is not yet back to his best after scoring on his return to Chelsea’s starting lineup on Saturday.
The forward has been sidelined for much of the campaign as he recovers from a niggling groin injury, but played 58 minutes of Chelsea’s 2-0 home defeat of Everton and scored the opener.
Speaking pre-match, Enzo Maresca had said there was ‘not any sense’ to the injury, which has affected Palmer since the early days of the season.
Palmer offered an update of his own after the Everton match, describing his recovery as ‘a day-by-day thing’.
"I wouldn't say I'm at my best yet. I'm still dealing with an injury,” he explained.
“Hopefully it gets better and better but there's still a bit to go.
"It is getting better. The stuff I've been doing with the physios at the club. It's just a matter of not doing too much too soon.
"Literally, it's just a day-by-day thing. Hopefully it gets better."
Maresca has shown an aptitude for easing injured players back into first-team football, and seems set to do the same with Palmer.
He made his initial return from injury with a cameo against Leeds last week but did not travel to face Atalanta in the Champions League on Wednesday.
And the Chelsea boss has confirmed he is not likely to be involved against Cardiff in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday night.
Asked if Palmer would be able to play twice in such quick succession, Maresca confirmed: "In this moment he can't play.”
Pressed as to whether Palmer could face Cardiff, the Italian added: “Probably not.”
