Chelsea confirm selection boost ahead of Manchester United visit

Cole Palmer available for Chelsea's visit of Manchester United after serving his Carabao Cup suspension; the midfielder was sent off against Tottenham but will not miss any Premier League games.

Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso has received a selection boost ahead of Saturday's Premier League clash against Manchester United at Stamford Bridge. Cole Palmer, the attacking midfielder, will be available for the fixture after serving his automatic one-match suspension in Chelsea's Carabao Cup fourth-round defeat to Liverpool on Wednesday night.

Palmer was sent off for two bookable offences in Chelsea's home loss to Tottenham last week but, under Premier League rules, served his suspension in the EFL Cup rather than missing a league match. The 22-year-old has apologised to supporters for his ill-discipline and is expected to earn an immediate recall to the starting XI following talks with Alonso, who said: "He knows the mistake he made. It's things he can avoid. Let's hope it's not going to be repeated. He's mature. It was a mistake."

Chelsea are bidding to bounce back from successive defeats and will face a Manchester United side on an eight-game winless run across all competitions.