Cole Palmer and Colwill are expected to return to Chelsea’s squad for their penultimate pre-season friendly against Milan in Australia, after both players missed Wednesday’s meeting with Juventus as a precaution.
According to Football.London, Chelsea could make several significant changes to their starting line-up for the match. Palmer’s return would be a notable boost for the team, with the midfielder having been photographed taking part in training on Saturday.
Palmer and Colwill were left out of the squad for the Juventus game after sustaining injuries during Chelsea’s defeat by Tottenham at the weekend. Their absence was understood to have been precautionary, rather than an indication of a more serious setback.
The latest expectation is that both players will be available again when Chelsea face Milan. However, the report does not confirm whether either player will start, leaving the final decision over their involvement with the coaching staff.
Chelsea’s match against Milan is their penultimate pre-season fixture and forms part of their preparations ahead of the new campaign. The possibility of changes to the starting line-up gives players who have had fewer opportunities during the current schedule a chance to feature, while Palmer and Colwill could return after their enforced absence.
Palmer was seen in training on Saturday, providing the clearest indication that he had resumed work with the squad following the injury picked up against Tottenham. Colwill’s expected return would also give Chelsea another option after he was unavailable for the Juventus match.
The two players’ omission from Wednesday’s squad was specifically linked to the injuries suffered in the weekend defeat. Chelsea therefore opted not to risk them against Juventus, with the Milan fixture now the next opportunity for both to take part.
Any changes made by Chelsea are likely to be assessed in the context of player fitness and the club’s wider pre-season plans. The match will offer another chance to build preparation for the campaign while monitoring the condition of Palmer and Colwill after their recent problems.
For now, their expected availability represents the main development before the fixture. Palmer’s training appearance has strengthened hopes that he can return, while Colwill is also expected to be involved after missing out against Juventus.