Chelsea’s Cole Palmer has been left out of the squad for the opening stages of the UEFA Conference League, as the club looks to manage the England international’s workload in a season that could extend until mid-July.
Reports indicate that the decision is based on “load management,” a strategy aimed at reducing the physical burden on players.
Palmer, who played a key role in England’s Euro 2024 campaign, scoring in the final against Spain, returned to club action just 33 days after the tournament, ahead of the Premier League season.
The 22-year-old has also pulled out of the England squad for the Nations League matches against the Republic of Ireland and Finland this week.
Alongside Palmer, Romeo Lavia and Wesley Fofana have also been omitted from Chelsea’s UEFA Conference League squad due to similar concerns.
Chelsea’s season is expected to stretch beyond the regular Premier League calendar, as the Blues are set to participate in the expanded FIFA Club World Cup in the United States, scheduled to take place from June 15 to July 13, 2024.
Footballers’ union FIFPro voiced concerns on Thursday, stating that football’s governing bodies are “failing to meet their duty of care” by overloading players with extensive playing schedules and denying them sufficient rest.
The union has proposed introducing a mandatory minimum rest period for players and a cap on the number of games they can play in a season.
Palmer, who appeared in 57 matches for both club and country last season, is seen as one of the young stars under threat of burnout.
FIFPro highlighted the benefit of rest periods, citing the impressive form of Manchester City’s Erling Haaland and Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah, both of whom enjoyed a summer off from international duties.
The Blues are set to face Gent, Panathinaikos, FC Noah, Heidenheim, Astana, and Shamrock Rovers in the new league phase of UEFA’s third-tier European club competition.
However, Palmer could still be included in Chelsea’s squad for the latter stages of the tournament if the team progresses.
