Cole Palmer appeared to suffer a recurrence of his groin injury during Chelsea’s Premier League defeat to Manchester United on Saturday.
Chelsea were reduced to 10 men after just five minutes at Old Trafford as goalkeeper Robert Sanchez was sent off for a foul on Bryan Mbeumo, who was through on goal.
Enzo Maresca brought on back-up goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen to replace Estevao, while Tosin Adarabioyo replaced Pedro Neto a minute later.
However, eyebrows were raised in the 21st minute when Palmer was substituted for Andrey Santos.
Palmer was an injury concern ahead of the game against United this weekend after he was seen holding his groin in the closing stages of Chelsea’s 3-1 defeat away to Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Wednesday.
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Maresca played down Palmer’s injury before the trip to Manchester but as he was leaving the pitch at Old Trafford, the Chelsea midfielder was seen pointing to his groin to indicate a problem.
Palmer went straight down the tunnel for treatment but remerged to take his place on the bench and was seen putting ice on his thigh.
When asked about Palmer’s injury after the defeat to United, Maresca said: ‘Cole this morning did a test to play this game. He was not 100 per cent.
‘It was a fantastic effort for the club, for his teammates, for the team. Unfortunately he was not 100 per cent.’
Bruno Fernandes put United ahead with a goal from close range in the 14th minute. Chelsea were then two down as Casemiro doubled United’s lead in the 37th minute.
Trevoh Chalobah pulled a goal back in the 80th minute but Maresca’s side were unable to score the equaliser and have now suffered their first defeat in the Premier League this season.
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