Chelsea coach, Enzo Maresca has confirmed that Cole Palmer will spend at least six more weeks on the sidelines due to a stubborn groin problem.

Cole Palmer has been out of action since September 20, when he limped off after aggravating an issue that first appeared during the club’s shortened pre-season following their Club World Cup victory.

It has been a frustrating start to the season for Palmer, who has managed only three Premier League appearances so far. The timing of the injury also puts pressure on his bid to convince England boss Thomas Tuchel of his worth ahead of next summer’s World Cup.

“I was wrong,” Maresca told reporters on Friday. “Unfortunately, he needs to be out probably six more weeks. So, yes, this is the update.”

The Chelsea boss, however, dismissed any fears of surgery, saying the focus was on ensuring the player makes a full recovery.

“We try to protect Cole as much as we can. The most important thing is when he comes back, he is fully fit,” Maresca said. “The medical staff are not magicians. We hope six weeks are enough. We need to see it step-by-step. For sure, he’s going to be OK. He looks relaxed. He has tried to recover from the injury and is doing all the therapy.”

Speaking ahead of Saturday’s Premier League clash away at Nottingham Forest, Maresca admitted Palmer’s absence will be hard to cover. “To replace Cole is difficult, because Cole is a very important player for us, probably one of the best players in the Premier League, so to replace that kind of player is always difficult,” he said. “We don’t have another player like Cole, because Cole is unique.”

The 23-year-old is expected to miss league games against Sunderland, Tottenham Hotspur, Burnley, and Arsenal, as well as the League Cup tie at Wolves. He will also be unavailable for Champions League fixtures against Ajax, Qarabag, and Barcelona, in addition to England’s World Cup qualifiers against Serbia and Albania.