No fewer than 12 players could be unavailable for selection when Chelsea take on Bournemouth in the Premier League this weekend.
Chelsea will face Bournemouth on Saturday afternoon, with several players expected to miss the encounter.
Xabi Alonso’s squad has experienced a difficult period, having gone without a win in their last three league matches, including defeats to Arsenal and Brentford, with a draw against Hull City in between.
As for Marco Rose’s Bournemouth, their opening five matches have produced three draws and two defeats, leaving them just above the relegation zone.
Following the three-week international break, both sets of supporters are eager for the latest injury updates. Consequently, football.london provided a comprehensive overview of the available information.
Joao Pedro withdrew from Brazil’s international squad due to a knee complaint. Chelsea’s No. 9 has not participated in any first-team training sessions during the break, and an official update from Alonso is expected in the coming days.
Similar circumstances apply to Cole Palmer. The 23-year-old was called up by Thomas Tuchel for England’s international fixtures but, due to a muscular concern, withdrew from the squad and instead underwent rehabilitation in the Caribbean under the guidance of a specialist fitness professional, according to Chelsea officials.
Chelsea captain Reece James has been focusing on his rehabilitation from a hamstring strain during the international break. The precise nature of the Chelsea captain’s current injury has not been disclosed.
Alonso will be hoping to have Moises Caicedo available for the visit of the Cherries. The Ecuadorian midfielder has played just 14 minutes this season due to a persistent calf problem but is nearing a return to action.
Emmanuel Emegha is yet to make a first-team appearance for Chelsea since signing from Strasbourg in the summer.
The Dutch striker has been struggling with a hamstring injury, but there is some hope that he could return to the Blues squad for this weekend’s clash with Bournemouth, given that Alonso had hoped to include him against Brentford before the break.
Chelsea winger Jamie Gittens was forced to withdraw from England Under-21 duty because of an ankle problem. Gittens was pictured on crutches following what was described as a “kick on his ankle” and returned to Cobham for further tests.
Marco Palestra, meanwhile, is expected to return to the Chelsea squad on Saturday after missing the start of the season due to a quad injury. The Italian defender, signed for £47 million in the summer, has been pictured in first-team training over the past few weeks.
There was a major blow for Bournemouth on Monday morning when news broke that Alex Scott had withdrawn from the England camp due to a quadriceps injury. The 23-year-old, who is reportedly a target for Chelsea, felt something before the Three Lions’ thrashing of Croatia but played 70 minutes anyway.
Eli Junior Kroupi and Amine Adli are due back soon for Bournemouth, but the visit to London could come too soon for the pair. Kroupi has been sidelined with a serious foot injury sustained in July, while Adli picked up a calf/shin problem in August.
Veljko Milosavljevic is in a similar situation. The Serbian defender is due back after the international break, but whether he makes the trip to Stamford Bridge remains uncertain due to a knee injury.
Julian Araujo, however, is set to miss October because of a thigh problem. Rose said: “He needs a little longer, but the plan is to get him back in November as well.”
There is less clarity regarding Justin Kluivert. The Netherlands international suffered an injury in Bournemouth’s historic Europa League win away at Real Sociedad before the break and was subsequently ruled out of the defeat to Liverpool a few days later.
12 Chelsea, Bournemouth players set to miss Premier League clash