Chelseas Palmer ready to play 90 minutes, says Maresca

Sign up now: Get the biggest sports news in your inbox

Dec 24 - Chelsea midfielder Cole Palmer is finally ready to play a full match after months of injury struggles, manager Enzo Maresca said on Wednesday, as his side prepares to face high-flying Aston Villa in the Premier League on Saturday.

Palmer has been restricted to partial appearances due to a groin injury and a broken toe, but Maresca believes the playmaker has completed his comeback journey through a careful progression of minutes.

I think he (Palmer) is ready for 90 minutes. The progression for a player is 45 (minutes),one hour, 70, Maresca told reporters ahead of Saturdays home game against Villa.

He already played one hour against Everton. He played more than 70 against Newcastle, so I think the progression is there.

The Italian will welcome back two more players from the treatment room, with striker Liam Delap recovering from a shoulder injury sustained earlier this month and winger Estevao returning from a muscle problem that kept him out of the last two games.

(Estevao is) back, hes available for Saturday. Him, and also Liam Delap... So Im very happy for both.

TOUCHLINE BAN FOR MARESCA

Maresca himself will be in the stands after he earned a touchline ban with his third yellow card of the season. The Italian had already served one ban in October when he was sent off against Liverpool.

Yes, in almost 100 games, Ive been suspended three times. One for celebration and two times for yellow cards, he said.

So yeah, unfortunately I will be in the stands, but Willy (Caballero) is there, Danny (Walker) is there, the coaching staff is there.

Maresca also reserved words of praise for Reece James, who