The Blues’ talisman is already facing a short spell on the sidelines after a strenuous summer where he was overworked in the pursuit of silverware
There was always a sense that Chelsea’s Club World Cup triumph would come back to bite them at some stage, with fatigue and injuries potentially the biggest obstacles on the road to a successful season. Few, however, would have predicted it would be so soon.
With the new campaign a little over a week old, the Blues are already sweating on the fitness of their key player Cole Palmer, who, it transpires, has been carrying a groin injury ever since the tournament in the United States.
They will pray that the problem is nothing serious, but there is little doubt that Chelsea are already paying the price for their summer success in gruelling conditions, and if they aren’t careful, this could be a recurring theme throughout what was supposed to be a season where they re-established themselves among England and Europe’s elite.