Cole Palmer is a doubt for Chelsea바카라™s visit to Arsenal on Tuesday with Mauricio Pochettino confirming the Premier League바카라™s joint-top scorer is likely to miss the game at the Emirates Stadium with illness. (More Football News)
The 21-year-old did not train on Monday following his side바카라™s FA Cup semi-final defeat to Manchester City on Saturday, a loss that left them needing to secure a top-seven finish in the league if they are to end their year-long absence from European competition.
The England international has been the standout player of an indifferent season for Chelsea, with seven goals in the team바카라™s last two home games having rocketed him to the top of the scoring charts alongside City striker Erling Haaland.
He has frequently been the decisive factor when the team have performed well, helping Pochettino바카라™s side throw off the creative inertia that blunted their attack last season and in the early weeks of the current campaign.
A win against Mikel Arteta바카라™s title-chasers would put the Argentinian바카라™s side level on points with sixth-placed Newcastle, with a top-six finish likely to be enough for a Europa League berth.
However, the size of their task 바카라“ already a daunting one with Arsenal on a run of 11 league wins in their last 13 바카라“ grew on Monday with the fear that Palmer will likely miss out, while full-backs Ben Chilwell and Malo Gusto are also doubts.
바카라śWe need to assess (Tuesday) morning,바카라ť said Pochettino of Palmer바카라™s chances. 바카라śToday, no, I don바카라™t believe he can be involved. Even if he will be good tomorrow, he may not be in a condition to play.
바카라śWith and without him, we believe that we can win. The most important thing is the collective. Of course he바카라™s an important part of the team. He바카라™s doing fantastic for us. But we have plenty of players that can perform and do the job.바카라ť
Pochettino defended the contributions of striker Nicolas Jackson on his debut season for the club, after he missed multiple opportunities against City to put Chelsea in the final.
The 22-year-old has improved significantly in recent weeks after struggling in the aftermath of his ÂŁ32million summer move from Villarreal but three times at Wembley he failed to make the most of clear openings.
Pochettino has been forced to rely on the player 바카라“ who has scored 10 goals in the league 바카라“ far more than the club had intended, with fellow signing Christopher Nkunku having been limited by injury to a handful of appearances since joining from RB Leipzig.
바카라śFirst season is always difficult but more when you are a striker and you have to perform and score goals. Everyone expects with every single touch to score,바카라ť Pochettino added. 바카라śHe바카라™s our main striker, the only striker we have fit.
바카라śHe바카라™s doing fantastic. He바카라™s doing an amazing job for the team; running, scoring goals, giving assists. His first season, a young guy, came in from Spain, even with not too much experience there.
바카라śIf we want the player to match the iconic players here, if we compare him with Drogba, obviously he바카라™s going to lose.
바카라śBut he바카라™s going to have all my support. Even if he doesn바카라™t score, the way that he바카라™s fighting for the club and his team-mates, he바카라™s producing chances. He needs time to improve. He바카라™ll be better next season for sure, no doubt about that.바카라ť
