Rosenior Breaks Silence on Palmer and James Injury Worries Following Charlton No-Shows

Chelsea boss Liam Rosenior has provided reassurance to supporters regarding fitness worries surrounding Cole Palmer and Reece James after both players were absent from the new manager's inaugural match on Saturday.

After observing Wednesday evening's Premier League loss to Fulham from the stands at Craven Cottage, Rosenior took his place on the touchline for the journey to Charlton Athletic in the FA Cup on Saturday—the Blues ultimately secured an emphatic 5–1 victory to progress.

Rosenior selected a changed lineup for the cup tie, giving opportunities to Jamie Gittens, Marc Guiu, Alejandro Garncho, Facundo Buonanotte, Andrey Santos, Jorrel Hato, Josh Acheampong and Filip Jörgensen. However, Palmer, James and Malo Gusto were conspicuously absent from the entire matchday roster.

"Malo, Cole and Reece were rested as a precaution today," Rosenior clarified following the victory.

"I don't want to gamble with injuries at this point in the campaign. They picked up minor issues or knocks during the Fulham match. And I believe I have such quality depth in this squad. There's no need to jeopardize their fitness right now," the ex-Strasbourg boss continued.

When Will Palmer, James Return for Chelsea?

Rosenior suggested that resting the key duo from the Charlton encounter, which was expected to be a straightforward victory for Chelsea against a Championship side, was to maximize their availability for the upcoming Carabao Cup fixture against Arsenal.

The semi-final opening leg on Wednesday presents a chance to establish an advantage toward reaching the first major final of the campaign. Following that, it's Brentford in the Premier League on Saturday.

The Bees currently sit fifth in the standings, two points clear of Chelsea in eighth position, having collected 14 points from their last 18 available. This makes the fixture crucial for Rosenior's team in their pursuit of a top four finish by season's end.

"We face a massive match on Wednesday, we face a massive match on Saturday," Rosenior emphasized.

"I'll review the medical assessments to determine their status."