The 23-year-old, who has been sidelined by a minor thigh niggle that forced him to miss the recent Premier League win over Crystal Palace, was spotted in action during Tuesday’s session—smiling, linking up with teammates like Estevao Willian, and looking sharp in drills.
Multiple sources, including fan footage and reports from outlets like Chelsea News and football.london, confirm Palmer took part fully, with head coach Liam Rosenior previously indicating a “really good chance” of his involvement against Napoli. This comes after Rosenior emphasized managing Palmer’s minutes carefully to avoid setbacks, praising him as an “outstanding” talent who’s “very, very happy” at the club amid occasional transfer speculation (e.g., loose Manchester United links, firmly denied). Palmer’s return is massive for Chelsea’s attack—he’s been integral despite injury interruptions limiting him to around 13 appearances this season—providing creativity, goals, and set-piece threat in a side pushing for consistency under Rosenior.
Fans in Lagos and worldwide are understandably buzzing: Palmer’s presence could be the spark needed for the must-win UCL tie in Naples, where points are vital for progression in the league phase. Social media is flooded with positive vibes, clips of him training, and hope he’ll start or feature significantly.
However, it’s not all good news—a defensive duo remains absent, raising fresh concerns about the backline ahead of the fixture. Tosin Adarabioyo is sidelined for “a few weeks” with a confirmed hamstring injury picked up recently (Rosenior stated it rules him out short-term), while Levi Colwill continues his long-term recovery from a devastating pre-season ACL tear. Colwill’s absence has been a major blow since the summer, forcing Chelsea to recall Aaron Anselmino early from his Dortmund loan for cover—but the young Argentine isn’t yet a like-for-like senior replacement.
This leaves the centre-back options thin: primarily Trevoh Chalobah, Benoit Badiashile, and the injury-prone Wesley Fofana, with Anselmino providing depth but limited experience. Other defenders like Reece James (recurring issues) have faced fitness doubts earlier in the month, though not directly tied to this duo. Rosenior’s side has shown defensive vulnerabilities amid these absences, and the Napoli game—against a potent attack—will test the unit severely without full reinforcements.
Chelsea’s January push (as per Fabrizio Romano’s recent updates) includes assessing more CB options despite Anselmino’s return, but no late defensive incomings are confirmed yet. The focus remains on getting Palmer back firing while managing the backline crisis carefully.
For Blues supporters: Palmer’s return is a timely morale lifter amid a mixed season—his flair could unlock Napoli. But defensive concerns linger; a solid performance in Italy would go a long way toward steadying the ship under Rosenior. Stay tuned to official Chelsea channels for final team news—fingers crossed for a strong showing! (Word count: 712)
