Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso has been handed a major selection boost ahead of this weekend’s Premier League clash at home to struggling Manchester United.

The Blues face Man United at Saturday lunchtime and will be looking to bounce back from successive defeats over the past week.

Chelsea suffered their first home loss of the season against Tottenham and were then knocked out of the Carabao Cup at the fourth-round stage by Liverpool on penalties.

Missing from the matchday squad at Anfield on Wednesday night was Cole Palmer.

The attacking midfielder was sent-off for two bookable offences in the defeat to Spurs, but will not miss any Premier League matches through suspension.

A statement via the Premier League website reads: “Despite being sent off for two bookable offences in Chelsea's defeat to Tottenham Hotspur, and receiving an automatic one-match suspension, Cole Palmer will not miss any Premier League matches.

“Instead, he served his suspension in Chelsea's fourth round encounter with Liverpool in the EFL Cup on Wednesday.”

Cole Palmer has served his suspension after being sent off against Tottenham

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In a boost for Alonso, Chelsea have confirmed that Palmer is in contention to face Man United - who are on a run of eight games without a win across all competitions.

While the majority of Blues players who featured at Anfield were inside doing recovery work in the gym at Cobham, Palmer was out on the grass along with Valentin Barco and Marco Palestra.

Palmer did apologise to Chelsea supporters for his ill-discipline against Tottenham and is now expected to earn an immediate recall to the starting XI for the visit of United following talks with Alonso.

"We spoke,” Alonso said before the Liverpool game. “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.”