Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca hopes Cole Palmer avoids surgery on groin injury

Cole Palmer was withdrawn after just 21 minutes at Old Trafford (Nick Potts/PA)

Enzo Maresca is hopeful Cole Palmer will not require surgery on a groin injury which forced him off in the first half of Chelsea’s 2-1 Premier League defeat against Manchester United.

The England international, 23, has been able to start just twice in the league so far this season, and lasted only 21 minutes at Old Trafford on Saturday.