Where is Cole Palmer?! Chelsea continue to sweat on talisman's injury ahead of Premier League return against Brentford

Adding fuel to the uncertainty, Chelsea recently released images from their latest training session. While faces like Benoit Badiashile and Romeo Lavia were spotted working with the group, there was no sign of Palmer. That omission has only deepened suspicions. For now, the most logical assumption is that Palmer has yet to return to full training.

Maresca was asked about Palmer before the Fulham win and admitted the club is having to monitor the forward’s situation closely. "Cole, we need to see day by day," he explained, offering little in the way of certainty. The 23-year-old himself gave a cryptic but hopeful message on social media, posting a brief update that simply read: "Back soon."

Palmer’s situation is only the latest episode in what has been an injury-plagued start to the season for Chelsea. Liam Delap has been ruled out for eight weeks, leaving Maresca without a key attacking option. Levi Colwill’s campaign looks to be over after suffering an ACL injury, while midfield enforcer Moises Caicedo has been seen with a bandaged knee while training with Ecuador.

What frustrates supporters most is the lack of official clarity from the club. Chelsea have yet to provide a concrete update on the extent of Palmer’s injury or any timetable for his recovery. Despite the gloom, there is still cautious optimism that Palmer could feature this weekend away at Brentford.