Chelsea will be without Cole Palmer when when they face Atalanta in Bergamo on Tuesday evening.
Palmer is being carefully managed back to full fitness after his recurring groin injury and skipped training on Monday morning as part of a rearranged plan from the club’s medical staff.
The Englishman did not travel with the squad to Bergamo, but will be available for selection against Everton this weekend.
Despite Palmer’s absence, Enzo Maresca can call on midfielder Moises Caicedo against Atalanta.
The Blues’ head coach has not been able to play the Ecuadorian midfielder in either of their most recent games against Leeds and Bournemouth as he serves a three-game Premier League suspension for his red card against Arsenal, but that ban does not cross over to the Champions League so he is able to feature against Atalanta.
It remains to be seen how strong Maresca goes with his team selection, but he is expected to make a number of changes from Saturday’s goalless draw at Bournemouth to freshen things up and inspire a first win in four games in all competitions.
Maresca would not confirm whether he would play both Wesley Fofana and Reece James, who have both seen their minutes managed this season, but said the pair were available for selection.
“Reece and Wes, they are both with us so they are both available for tomorrow's game. We will see the first XI tomorrow,” Maresca said in his pre-match press conference.
Chelsea will be without striker Liam Delap, who begins a period out of action following the shoulder injury which forced him off after 32 minutes against Bournemouth.
Maresca, though, said he had a number of solutions, with Delap having already spent time out with a hamstring injury suffered at the end of August.
“We had Liam two month out, Joao plays as a No.9, Pedro Neto too, also Tyrique as a No.9. We try to find solution. We know Liam needs to play games to be fit and be better and better. Now unfortunately he is again out.”
Maresca can choose from Joao Pedro and Marc Guiu up front, where wingers Pedro Neto and Tyrique George have also deputised at moments this season when asked to fill in there.
Maresca may decide to hand left-back Marc Cucurella a rest after a busy run of games. Summer signing Jorrel Hato, the Dutch international, would be the obvious choice to come in if Cucurella is rested.
Besides Delap’s shoulder issue, injuries also mean Dario Essugo, Romeo Lavia and Levi Colwill will not be involved.
Chelsea predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Sanchez; Gusto, Tosin, Chalobah, Hato; Santos, Caicedo; Estevao, Buonanotte, Garnacho; Joao Pedro
Injured: Delap, Essugo, Lavia, Colwill
Unavailable: Palmer
Time and date: 8pm GMT on Tuesday December 9, 2025
How to watch: TNT Sports
Venue: Stadio Atleti Azzurri d'Italia, Bergamo
