'He wants to be there' - Enzo Maresca delivers latest injury update on Cole Palmer and addresses growing Chelsea fans' concerns over surgery

After being forced off the pitch at Old Trafford less than midway through the first half, Maresca has confirmed that Palmer remains a doubt for upcoming Chelsea fixtures and still requires further medical assessment. But the Blues coach also admitted that his star man wasn't 100 per cent for the Manchester United game, which he started, calling it now a "day by day" situation.

"Cole probably is the only one that we need to assess a little bit," Maresca explained as he gave team news to assembled reporters before Tuesday night's Carabao Cup tie against Lincoln City. "He already did a huge effort last Saturday [against Man Utd]. He was not 100 per cent. He wants to be there to help the team. It's day by day to see how he is. The rest [of the squad] are okay.

"The medical staff didn't mention to me about surgery. I don't know about the next weeks, but I don't think so to be honest."

For all of the attacking talent in Chelsea's squad, the Blues appear to lack a natural replacement for Palmer in the central attacking midfield role. In his absence for wins over West Ham and Fulham, Joao Pedro got the nod to start, but Liam Delap's subsequent injury has pushed the Brazilian higher up the pitch. Facundo Buonanotte then started the Brentford draw, while it was Andrey Santos who came on for Palmer at Old Trafford.

Chelsea are in action four times before club football pauses for the October international break early next month. But after being heavy favourites against Lincoln in the Carabao Cup and then hosting a struggling Brighton in the Premier League, the Blues welcome Jose Mourinho back to Stamford Bridge in his new role with Benfica, before Liverpool also then visit. Depending on how Palmer recovers and how his fitness is managed, he could return to play some part in those games, or equally miss all of them.