Where should Chelsea use Cole Palmer against Aston Villa?
Cole Palmer has been the clear star of the Blues' season, the playmaker currently sitting joint-top of the Premier League goalscoring charts with 20 goals.
However, the 21-year-old was missing from the squad on Tuesday evening as Chelsea suffered a 5-0 defeat at the hands of Arsenal in the Premier League.
With Chelsea's injury list already in double figures, it was an absence that Mauricio Pochettino could ill-afford when the West Londoners are attempting to secure European football for next season.
A report on Thursday, in the the Daily Mail, has indicated that Palmer has since returned to training, two days before the game with Villa.
Chelsea handed Fernandez blowEarlier in the day, a report emerged that midfielder Enzo Fernandez would be sidelined for the remainder of the season with the decision having been made to undergo hernia surgery.
Had Palmer been absent for a second game, it would leave Pochettino with a major dilemma given that he has shown clear preferences to some central-midfield players this campaign.
Instead, it appears highly likely that the former Manchester City man will be able to take his place in the squad, even if he is restricted to an appearance from the substitutes' bench.
Is Palmer starting versus Villa realistic?At the beginning of the week, Pochettino acknowledged that Palmer was in no position to play had the Arsenal game taken place on Monday, and that is how it proved on Tuesday.
Nevertheless, providing that the 21-year-old has only lost minimal base fitness, he may be risked from the opening whistle given the importance of the game.
If Palmer does start, he may be allowed to occupy a
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