Chelsea trio could return for Bournemouth after injury issues
Cole Palmer and Joao Pedro have both withdrawn from international duty with injuries, while Reece James remains sidelined with a hamstring problem, and all three have been pencilled in for a potential return when Chelsea host Bournemouth on Saturday 10 October.
What we know about the Chelsea treatment room
The international break has left Xabi Alonso with just under three weeks before Chelsea are back in action, and it’s given him some breathing space to assess a growing injury list. Palmer’s withdrawal from Thomas Tuchel’s England squad has been put down to a muscular issue, with Chelsea sources describing it as load management rather than anything more serious.
James missed the 3-0 defeat at Brentford after picking up a hamstring injury in the draw with Hull City, and didn’t make it back in time despite trying. Joao Pedro also sat out Brentford and withdrew from Brazil’s squad over the break with a knee injury. For more detail on where things stand with the Brazilian, our Joao Pedro injury update covers the situation ahead of Bournemouth.
Where Chelsea stand and what it means
The Brentford loss leaves Chelsea 10th in the Premier League after five games, with two wins, one draw and two defeats. Several first-team players are away representing their countries, which has thinned out numbers at Cobham even further while Alonso works with what’s left of his squad.
Palmer and Joao Pedro will stay in London to manage their respective injuries rather than travel. On James, Alonso said: “He’s had a little injury in his hamstring. He tried and we waited until this morning. He tried to make it but he couldn’t now we have enough time to prepare for the next one. He was just short of recovering.” For context on the captain’s recurring hamstring issues, see our piece on Reece James’s injury history.
It isn’t just the headline names, either. Moises Caicedo is still working back from a pre-season calf injury, Marco Palestra hasn’t debuted since picking up a knock before the Fulham opener, and Emmanuel Emegha remains out with a hamstring problem of his own. Alonso, discussing Emegha and Palestra ahead of Brentford, said: “Not tomorrow… we hope they can [be ready] against Brentford, but we will see.”
All six players – Palmer, James, Joao Pedro, Caicedo, Palestra and Emegha – share the same potential return date of 10 October against Bournemouth. Nothing is confirmed yet. On Joao Pedro specifically, Alonso had said: “In terms of injuries and in terms of the squad, we are having the last training session tomorrow, so no one is ruled out for us for Friday (vs Brentford). We will see tomorrow if Joao is ready to play, it’s a possibility.” Expect clearer answers once training resumes properly at Cobham in the days before Bournemouth.
In other news…
Catch up on Chelsea’s earlier injury update involving Cole Palmer and Estevao for more background on how the club has handled his fitness this season.
Read our full breakdown of Joao Pedro’s injury and Bournemouth return prospects.
