Enzo Maresca makes Chelsea transfer plea and gives Palmer injury update after Servette win

Enzo Maresca is hopeful Cole Palmer will be available for Sunday’s Premier League trip to Wolves after he picked up a knock in Chelsea’s victory against Servette. Palmer was a second-half substitute as the Blues placed one foot in the Europa Conference League group stage at Stamford Bridge.

Maresca’s side were booed off the pitch by disgruntled home supporters following a dismal first half, in which Servette were unfortunate not to take the lead.

But Noni Madueke, who joined Palmer in coming off the bench, sealed the win after Christopher Nkunku’s 50th-minute penalty to take a 2-0 advantage to Geneva.

Palmer sparked concerns after full-time when he was filmed wincing and gingerly walking as he headed straight for the tunnel.

But Maresca has eased fears over his fitness, confirming the 22-year-old appears to have left the match unscathed.

“Cole felt something but he looks fine,” the Chelsea boss explained after the final whistle in west London.

“They already checked him, he looks fine, okay and hopefully there’s not any problem and he can be available for Sunday’s game.”

Madueke featured on a stacked bench worth £384million as part of a squad that cost Chelsea an eye-watering £834m.

The unprecedented size of Maresca’s squad has naturally sparked speculation about the 22-year-old’s future, along with several other big-money players.

But the Italian coach has insisted that he wants Madueke to remain at Chelsea beyond the summer transfer deadline on August 30.

He responded: “Yes, absolutely [I want Madueke to stay]. The reality is, until the window is closed, anything can happen.

“We have so many games. Noni is doing well, the only thing he has to improve is his consistency.”

Maresca also sent an indirect message to players like Madueke, who aren’t guaranteed regular starts, by reminding them that Chelsea faces “so many games” this season.

In contrast to Madueke’s evening, Mykhaylo Mudryk suffered a poor night and failed to stake his claim for a starting berth.

Maresca was visibly frustrated with the £89m winger, particularly in the first half, as he displayed indecisiveness on the ball and while pressing off it.

But Maresca has made it clear that he isn’t ready to give up on Mudryk, stating: “We’re going to try to help him to change.

“He is going to try to understand that we are going to get him the ball in the last third. Most of the mistakes of Misha are not quality, they are about the decision making.”