Palmer, Fofana available for Everton clash as Chelsea look for consistency

Cole Palmer and Wesley Fofana are available for Chelsea's home Premier League clash with Everton on Saturday, but Liam Delap faces two to four weeks on the sidelines due to a shoulder injury, manager Enzo Maresca told reporters.

Chelsea, looking for their first win in the English top-flight since last month's trip to Burnley, are aiming to shake off a midweek Champions League loss at Atalanta where centre-back Fofana was forced off with an eye injury.

Attacking midfielder Palmer, recently back from a six-week absence due to groin issues and a broken toe, was left out of the trip to Atalanta as part of his recovery process.

"(Palmer) is okay. He's better. He is, at the moment, available... yesterday he finished the session with us with mixed feelings. But overall he's fine," Maresca said on Friday.

"Wesley is fine. He completed the session yesterday."

-- NIGERIA ONLY --

Maresca said striker Delap, who hurt his shoulder during last weekend's goalless draw at Bournemouth, needs more time to heal.

"It can be two, three or four weeks. We don't know exactly how many days he needs," he said.

Chelsea, winless in their last four matches, are struggling to recapture their form from earlier this season, when they won nine of their 11 matches in all competitions between late September and November, including a 3-0 victory over Barcelona.

Maresca said consistency was the "next step" for Chelsea as they sit fifth in the Premier League.

"How do we do that? It's just one week, it's not a long time, but for sure when something happens, the next game you are more prepared and you can avoid that," he said.

"In terms of human beings, it's impossible to be at the same level for the whole season but we need to learn things for the future."