Chelsea have been encouraged by the return of Cole Palmer and Noni Madueke to first-team training on Friday, in preparation for next week’s Premier League match against Tottenham Hotspur.

Palmer missed Chelsea’s defeat to Arsenal before the March international break and was initially considered doubtful as he hadn’t been seen on the pitches at Cobham by Thursday. Madueke had been out for an even longer period, missing the last six weeks due to a hamstring injury he suffered against Brighton on Valentine’s Day.

Jackson has also recently made a positive return to training after being sidelined for two months with a muscular issue, providing a significant boost to Chelsea’s attacking options as the season draws to a close.

The Blues were painfully blunt in their most recent outing, mustering just eight shots in a 1-0 loss at the Emirates Stadium – the club’s lowest tally in a top-flight match all season.

After that limp reverse, Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca lamented the absence of his three first-choice forwards. “It’s a huge difference if you think of the three players with most goals for us are Cole Palmer, Nicolas Jackson and Noni Madueke,” he sighed. “Not one of them was on the pitch today. For two of them, they have already been out a long time, so it is normal that offensively we struggle a little bit.”

The trio boast 30 of Chelsea’s 52 Premier League goals this season. The team’s next highest scorer is left-back Marc Cucurella with four.

Palmer and Madueke both made their return to training on Friday, although the rest of the available squad was in action the day before as part of a punishment enforced by Maresca. The team had been scheduled to enjoy a day off but were dragged into Cobham after the senior players were thumped 3-0 in a training game against a group of kids from the club’s under-21 and under-16 sides, The Athletic report.

Maresca is said to have been more impressed with the showing on Friday which was no doubt helped by the inclusion of Palmer and Madueke.

Both forwards and Jackson will likely be involved in Chelsea’s London derby with Spurs which is scheduled for next Thursday.