Cole Palmer is the second-highest scorer in this season’s Fantasy Premier League and the joint-top scorer in the Premier League.
He is also owned by over 47 per cent of FPL players, who will all be worried that the 21-year-old missed Tuesday night’s 5-0 defeat to Arsenal due to illness.
Chelsea visit Aston Villa on Saturday night in a crucial game for both sides’ European football hopes, with Palmer facing a race to recover in time.
Palmer’s fitness is even more important this week as Chelsea have a double gameweek, also hosting Tottenham on Thursday 2 May.
Here’s what we know about his absences and five potential FPL replacements if he misses out.
What Mauricio Pochettino has said
Palmer was not in Chelsea’s squad against Arsenal, and Mauricio Pochettino did not provide an update post-match about his condition.
But on Monday, Pochettino said of Palmer: “Today [training], no. We need to assess him tomorrow morning. But today, no, I don’t believe he can be involved, but we need to assess him tomorrow and then we can decide.
“Even if he will be good tomorrow, maybe he is not in a condition to play. I hope he can recover from this situation as soon as possible and be involved again with the team.”
This was “due to illness”, although there are currently no further details.
Yet whether he makes the trip to Villa on Saturday or not, Palmer is almost certain to be back by Thursday’s game against Spurs.
5 potential FPL replacements for Palmer
Whatever you do, don’t sell Palmer before Pochettino has addressed the media on Friday. It will only end in tears if he is passed fit to play.
If he is ruled out of one or both of Chelsea’s fixtures, then it becomes more of a conundrum given there is plenty of high-class competition in the midfield spots.
Son Heung-min (£9.8m) is the obvious target this week considering Spurs are the only other side playing twice in Gameweek 35, although his price tag is far steeper than Palmer’s, which may force some flexible FPL accounting.
Despite enduring a barren run by his standards, Son is still the fifth-highest scoring player in FPL and is Spurs’ designated penalty taker.
Bruno Fernandes (£8.3m) is another pricey asset attracting attention and righty so given his recent purple patch. Manchester United’s skipper has scored seven times in his last five matches in all competitions and is the second-highest scoring player in FPL since Gameweek 28 behind, you guessed it – Mr Cole Palmer.
Anthony Gordon (£6.1m) should be the next name on your shortlist. Handily for a Newcastle player, Gordon absolutely adores playing at St James’ Park, having combined nine goals with 11 assists in only 16 league games on home soil. Again, only Palmer can better his points tally in home matches this term, with 123 to 121.
Eberechi Eze (£6.1m) is another in-form option in Palmer’s price range and like Gordon has the added motivation of trying to secure a spot in Gareth Southgate’s 26-man England squad. Eze has provided three goals and two assists in eight appearances since Oliver Glasner’s appointment.
Finally, you could look in-house for a Palmer replacement and take a punt on Noni Madueke (£5.3m).
The winger has been in and out of Pochettino’s team this season but has started Chelsea’s last three league fixtures.
