Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca will serve a one-match touchline ban after his sending-off against Liverpool earlier this month.
The Football Association said Maresca had, earelir this week, admitted a misconduct charge, having been dismissed within the sixth minute of stoppage time within the match after wildly celebrating his side’s winner.
The Italian will now be banned from the touchline for Chelsea’s match away to Nottingham Forest within the Premier League on Saturday.
Maresca is reported to have told the Italian media that it had been ‘an instinctive response’ and added ‘but I feel (the red card) was value it’.
Chelsea, meanwhile, may also again be without the injured Cole Palmer after Maresca warned the club’s medical staff will not be magicians.
Get personalised updates on Chelsea day-after-day
Get up to search out news in your club in your inbox every morning with Metro’s Football Newsletter.
Join to our newsletter after which select your team within the link we’ll send you so we will get football news tailored to you.
The 23-year-old has been battling a groin injury for much of the season and has not played since being taken off 20 minutes into the 2-1 defeat by Manchester United on September 20.
Prior to the international break Maresca said he had hoped to have Palmer back for Saturday’s game at Nottingham Forest but, when asked concerning the progress of the injury, he admitted: ‘I used to be improper. Unfortunately he must be out probably six more weeks.
‘We try just to guard Cole as much as we will. Crucial thing is that when he comes back he’s fully fit.’
‘Unfortunately the medical staff will not be magicians. You never know that (timeframe). Probably he needs six weeks. We hope six weeks are enough. It’s an issue we want to see step-by-step, week after week.
‘He looks relaxed. He’s doing all of the therapy that he must do. He looks good.’
The injury, which first presented when he was forced to withdraw from the line-up minutes before kick-off within the 5-1 win over West Ham in August, is not going to require surgery.
Chelsea coped well in his absence that day but at times this season have looked desperately wanting creativity when Palmer has not been on the pitch.
The dependence on their talisman was evident during September’s 2-2 draw at Brentford when a display painfully lacking in attacking bite was enlivened once he was brought on within the second half.
Palmer scored Chelsea’s equaliser and customarily tipped the balance of the match in favour of Maresca’s side.
He also missed the unconvincing home win over Fulham and defeat to Brighton, though the team gave a more promising glimpse of life without their best player within the 2-1 win over Liverpool before the international break.
‘To exchange Cole is difficult because he’s an important player for us, probably among the best within the Premier League,’ said Maresca. ‘To exchange that sort of player is at all times difficult.
‘It is dependent upon the sport plan. Against Liverpool in that position was Malo Gusto. Against Benfica it was Facundo (Buonanotte). We’d like to search out different solutions.
‘We don’t have one other player like Cole. He is exclusive.’
MORE: Nottingham Forest vs Chelsea: Predicted lineup today and confirmed team news
MORE: Alejandro Garnacho makes Manchester United claim after Chelsea defeat at Old Trafford
MORE: Paul Gascoigne admits he is not going to stop drinking and says he’ll ‘die as Gazza’