Cole Palmer sent for 'injury scan' after Lisandro Martinez horror challenge

Chelsea have sent Cole Palmer for scans on his knee after being caught by a nasty challenge from Lisandro Martinez during the 1-1 draw with Manchester United.

Late in the game, Martinez's studs caught Palmer across the knee. The on-field referee only produced a yellow card and the VAR declined to propose a review, allowing the United defender to remain on the pitch for the final few minutes.

Blues boss Enzo Maresca was left fuming over the failure to dismiss Martinez, not least because Palmer is understood to have limped away from Old Trafford and complained of pain upon his return to London.

According to The Telegraph, Palmer will head for scans to determine the full extent of his injury ahead of Sunday's meeting with Arsenal.

Chelsea officials are hopeful that Palmer has avoided any internal damage and are aiming for the England international to start against Arsenal, but all will depend on the results of the scans.

Former Premier League referee Keith Hackett was one of many voices to question the failure to produce a red card for the challenge.

"The type of tackle Manchester United's Lisandro Martinez unleashed on Chelsea's Cole Palmer should be outlawed from football before a player is seriously injured," he wrote.

"The landing area of the boot was on Palmer's knee and quite clearly it endangered the player's safety. Referee Rob Jones was in a good position to view the incident and decided yellow. He probably concluded that there was insufficient force behind Martinez's challenger to warrant a stronger sanction.

"That for me was a clear and obvious error and VAR should have asked the referee to go and review the incident on the pitch-side monitor."

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