Cole Palmer set for shock position change as Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca hints a new tactic for FA Cup tie at Brighton
ENZO MARESCA warned Cole Palmer could be forced into a change of position to help solve Chelsea’s injury crisis.
The Blues travel to Brighton in the FA Cup fourth round tonight – but do so with attackers sidelined.
Strike pair Nicolas Jackson and Marc Guiu were both forced off in Chelsea’s 2-1 win at Stamford Bridge against West Ham on Monday.
It leaves Christopher Nkunku and Palmer – who played through the middle for Maresca at Manchester City’s academy – as options to lead the line.
Maresca said: “We have players. Christo has played already as a nine. I had Cole playing as a nine in the past. We can find some different solutions.
“At the moment, we didn’t decide anything because we are still waiting for Nico and from there, we will see different options.”
Palmer is Chelsea’s top scorer this season with 14 – playing almost all of his football in the No10 role.
He started on the right in the 2-0 opening day defeat against Premier League champions City – before remaning in the middle.
Nkunku is behind Palmer with 13 goals this season but only two of those have come in the league.
He has provided back up to Jackson – on nine goals – but Maresca says the Frenchman is best in the No10.
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Nkunku – who came on against West Ham on the left – was linked with a move to Bayern Munich the January transfer window.
But he stayed in West London and Maresca hinted at giving the former RB Leipzig star more minutes.
He said: “I spoke last week already about Christo.
“Probably against West Ham, he played more or less half an hour and hopefully from now on he can get more minutes and help us.”
The Blues boss named Nkunku as one of the players who can help ease pressure off Palmer’s scoring shoulders.
He said: “We have just 14 [league] games to go. It’s just 14 games, not a big number.
“Since we started, Cole plays always, so I don’t think it is something that is going to make a difference for Cole.
“Also we have Christo in that position. We can have different players who play there.”