Palmer’s Influence Endures Despite a Stop-Start Season
Cole Palmer’s 2025–26 season has been far from smooth, as persistent injury problems have repeatedly disrupted his rhythm and limited his time on the pitch.
What was expected to be another defining campaign for the gifted midfielder has instead turned into a frustrating cycle of recovery and careful management. Even so, Palmer’s impact has remained evident whenever he has been available.
Despite featuring in just 13 matches across all competitions, the 23-year-old has still found the net five times, underlining his importance and efficiency when fit.
Palmer continues to be a key figure in Chelsea’s tactical setup. His intelligence between the lines, creativity in tight spaces, and ability to influence games in the final third make him one of the first names on the team sheet when fully healthy.
This explains why the club’s coaching and medical staff have adopted a highly cautious approach in managing his workload.
Rather than risking a long-term setback, Chelsea have prioritized Palmer’s long-term availability, even if it means short-term absences.
That conservative strategy was clear in Chelsea’s recent European outing against Cypriot side Pafos, where Palmer was left out of the squad entirely.
Ahead of the match, head coach Liam Rosenior addressed the situation during his pre-match press conference, revealing that Palmer had experienced minor discomfort in his thigh.
Rosenior was quick to emphasize that the decision to rest the midfielder was purely a precautionary measure, not the result of a serious injury.
According to Rosenior, Palmer felt a slight issue during the earlier Premier League clash with Brentford, and it occurred early in the match.
Despite that, Palmer pushed through and completed the game, earning praise from his manager for his professionalism and resilience.
However, Rosenior made it clear that he had no intention of taking unnecessary risks, particularly with a player of Palmer’s calibre.
Encouragingly for Chelsea supporters, the head coach expressed optimism that Palmer could return to action when the Blues travel to Selhurst Park to face Crystal Palace on Sunday, with a strong possibility that he could even be named in the starting lineup.
While Palmer’s situation appears to be under control, Chelsea were left dealing with fresh concerns during the Pafos match.
Club captain Reece James and backup goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen were both forced off at halftime, prompting unplanned substitutions.
Robert Sanchez came on to replace Jorgensen in goal, while highly regarded Brazilian prospect Estevao was also introduced into the match.
Despite the disruption, Chelsea managed to maintain their composure and grind out a 1–0 victory. The decisive moment came in the 78th minute, when Moises Caicedo struck the winning goal to secure all three points.
After the game, Rosenior admitted his disappointment regarding Jorgensen’s injury, the severity of which remains uncertain.
He expressed genuine frustration on behalf of the goalkeeper, praising his recent performances both in matches and on the training ground, and voiced hope that the setback would not keep him sidelined for long.
In contrast, Rosenior sought to downplay concerns surrounding Reece James. He explained that with Chelsea facing a demanding schedule that often involves midweek and weekend fixtures, careful management of the captain is essential.
Highlighting James’ leadership and influence within the squad, Rosenior stressed the importance of protecting him to ensure his availability over the long term.
