Palmer missed Tuesday’s defeat at Arsenal (Picture: Getty)
Cole Palmer is available for Chelsea’s Premier League clash with Aston Villa on Saturday night.
The attacking midfielder, now joint-top scorer in the Premier League with 20 goals, missed the 5-0 defeat at Arsenal through illness.
He was also spotted wearing heavy strapping on his thigh during Saturday’s FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City with Pochettino coy on his return date following that hammering at the Emirates on Tuesday.
Palmer was pictured back in training on Thursday, however, handing his side huge boost ahead of their trip to Villa Park.
‘He has been training well the last few days so we assume he will be part of the squad,’ Pochettino told a press conference on Friday.
Reece James and Levi Colwill meanwhile were also both spotted in training but are not available for selection yet.
‘No, they are not available yet,’ the Chelsea boss said.
Palmer was back in training on Thursday (Picture: Getty)
‘They are close. Yesterday they were doing training with the squad, they are close but not available.’
Malo Gusto meanwhile has also missed his side’s last two games with Pochettino explaining he had suffered a ‘minor’ knee ligament injury.
Chelsea’s latest injury update said the Frenchman is ‘undergoing a rehabilitation programme.’
The club will also be without Enzo Fernandez for the remainder of the season with the club confirming he will undergo groin surgery. He is expected to be fit in time for Argentina’s Copa America campaign this summer.
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