Enzo Maresca forced to deny Cole Palmer’s injury was made worse by Jorrel Hato as Chelsea star faces six weeks out

ENZO MARESCA has rejected claims Jorrel Hato “added another month” to Cole Palmer’s injury layoff after jumping on him during celebrations.

Chelsea fans thought Hato had further crocked the Blues talisman after leaping on to him following their win over Liverpool this month.

Palmer noticeably grimaced and held his groin after the £37m summer signing got carried away in footage that went viral.

But Maresca was quick to shut down the rumours, insisting the midfielder’s groin injury had already been assessed before the match.

The Stamford Bridge boss jumped to Hato’s defence, saying: “We had a meeting a day or two before (the match) about the injury situation, that Cole was six more weeks. It wasn’t the celebration.”

Palmer picked up the injury in September’s defeat to Manchester United and was forced off the pitch 20 minutes into the match at Old Trafford.

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Maresca previously claimed that Palmer would not require surgery for the issue and fans could expect their No 10 to return in November.

The Italian, 45, assured no surgery is still the case but retracted his claim of a November return.

He added: “I was wrong.

“Unfortunately, he needs to be out for six more weeks.

“The medical (staff) are not magicians. We hope six weeks are enough. It’s a problem we need to see step by step, week after week.

“He’s trying to recover from the injury, he’s doing all the therapy that he needs to do, so he looks good.”

The 2023/24 PFA Young Player of the Year is expected to miss The Blues’ next nine matches, pushing his return back until December.

The West London side will feel Palmer’s absence in upcoming fixtures against rivals Tottenham Hotspur and Barcelona.

Chelsea have struggled to find their rhythm this season, managing just three Premier League wins and one in the Champions League.

Palmer fired the Blues’ campaign last season with 26 goals and 13 assists — but Maresca’s side have been plagued by injuries, with Levi Colwill, Liam Delap and Benoit Badiashile also sidelined.