Enzo Maresca has announced that Cole Palmer will be available for Saturday’s Premier League match against Leicester City.

Palmer was questionable for Chelsea’s 1-1 draw with Manchester United at Old Trafford on 3 November, due to a knee injury he sustained before the international break.

Chelsea’s talisman first reported for international duty with England during the international break, after which both he and Levi Colwill withdrew from Lee Carsley’s squad.

Chelsea will be without Reece James for Saturday’s early Premier League game at Leicester, but Maresca is hopeful that Palmer and Colwill will be fit to play.

We certainly only have one injured player, that’s Reece [James], who unfortunately has felt a little bit and we don’t want to risk him for the weekend,” Maresca said on Thursday.

‘He is certainly the only one who will not be available for this weekend.

‘The others, some are better, some still have doubts, and we also have to wait because today is the first training session we are doing with all the players who have been with the national team.’

When asked specifically about Palmer and Levi Colwill, Maresca replied: ‘As I said, yes, some are better, some we will test today. But overall they are better.

On James’ injury, Maresca added: ‘It’s a thigh muscle, it’s a muscular problem. We don’t want to take any risks for this weekend, hopefully it’s not something long-term.

‘I know it’s not easy, but if every time he gets injured it’s harder for him, it’s even worse for me. He has to accept that. He has to try to avoid it as much as possible, but sometimes things happen even if you want to avoid them.