LONDON :Chelsea midfielder Cole Palmer, who was close to a comeback from a groin injury, has fractured a toe in an accident at home that will keep him out of this month's key matches against visiting Barcelona and Arsenal, manager Enzo Maresca said on Friday.

Palmer has scored 38 Premier League goals for Chelsea since joining the club in 2023, and was key to this year's Club World Cup-winning campaign with three goals in six matches.

The England international suffered the groin injury in August but returned to action the following month with back-to-back goals against Brentford and Bayern Munich.

But Palmer was then forced off injured at Manchester United, prompting Maresca to rest him to recover, and has now stubbed the small toe on his left foot on a door during the night.

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