For the penultimate time this year, Enzo Maresca will see his international players return following two weeks away. After a strong run of results prior to the break, he will now be keen to keep up the form with a tough fixture list to come.
Luckily for Maresca, he has been able to work closely with a handful of key players at Cobham. Tosin Adarabioyo, Axel Disasi, and Jadon Sancho are among those who did not get selected for their countries, whilst Carney Chukwuemeka and Romeo Lavia also stayed behind.
Reece James was back on the grass with his teammates for the first time this season as well, bringing an added boost before the trip to Liverpool on Sunday. Maresca’s star men have been looking in good order too.
Christopher Nkunku and Nicolas Jackson both score their first international goals during the fortnight away. Noni Madueke had a promising pair of cameos, and Levi Colwill looked strong for England.
Here, football.london has the latest Chelsea injury news and availability updates.
Filip Jorgensen
Injury: Unknown.
Jorgensen was taken off after a collision whilst playing for Denmark’s Under-21 side on Tuesday night. The goalkeeper is said to have been taken off as a precaution and will reportedly be assessed once back at Cobham.
The summer signing also picked up a similar scare at the end of the last international break. He is yet to play in the Premier League.
Potential return date: Liverpool (A) – Sunday, 20 October.
Reece James
Injury: Hamstring
The club have now confirmed that the full-back is now back in training ahead of the game against Liverpool. The Premier League clash could though come too soon for him.
What Maresca has said: [September 20] ”Unfortunately, we don’t have an idea [when James will be back] at the moment. In this case, he has been very unlucky because we planned to change him after something like 65 minutes [vs Real Madrid], and he got an injury after 62 or 63 minutes. So, it was a bit unlucky. Hopefully, we can have him back fit as soon as possible.”
Potential return date: Newcastle (H) – Sunday, 27 October.
Levi Colwill
Injury: Unknown.
Colwill was a slight injury concern after being substituted in the second half against Nottingham Forest. In a boost to Chelsea, the defender played the full 90 minutes of England’s Nations League clash against Greece on Thursday before being an unused substitute in Finland.
What has been said: “I think they are both [Colwill and Madueke] OK when they went inside [to the changing room]. We will see, but I don’t think there is any problem there.”
Potential return date: Liverpool (A) – Sunday, 20 October.
Noni Madueke
Injury: Unknown.
Like Colwill, there was some concern over Madueke after he was taken off in the second half against Forest. He did, however, also join up with the England squad over the international break and made substitute appearances against both Greece and Finland.
What has been said: “I think they are both [Colwill and Madueke] OK when they went inside [to the changing room]. We will see, but I don’t think there is any problem there.”
Potential return date: Liverpool (A) – Sunday, 20 October.
Marc Cucurella
Injury: N/A.
Cucurella picked up his fifth booking of the season against Nottingham Forest. He will therefore serve a one-match suspension.
Expected return date: Panathinaikos (A), Europa League – Thursday, 24 October.
Wesley Fofana
Injury: N/A.
Like Cucurella, Fofana also picked up his fifth caution of the campaign against Forest. He will also serve a one-match ban.
Expected return date: Panathinaikos (A), Europa League – Thursday, 24 October.
