The international break has caused Mauricio Pochettino’s injury-riddled team to experience several new injuries.
The international break arrived just when Chelsea’s injury situation seemed to be improving.
Over the previous week, Romeo Lavia, Armando Broja, Cole Palmer, and Mykhailo Mudryk have all seen fitness setbacks, and some players still have a game of international service left.
According to accounts of Reece James and Carney Chukwuemeka’s injuries, the worst may yet be to come.
The most recent Chelsea injuries are shown here.
Reece James
After experiencing more hamstring issues, it appeared like Chelsea’s club captain James would be eligible for selection once more, but the defender has had a setback in his health.
He was unable to return against Burnley due to a one-game Football Association (FA) suspension for arguing with a referee in the tunnel following the defeat by Aston Villa. There was optimism that the England international would play against Arsenal, but he is currently training by himself and is a serious doubt for this weekend.
Carney Chukwuemeka
Another player who skipped the international break is Carney Chukwuemeka, who is still trying to get back to full health. Although he didn’t play against Burnley, his inclusion on the bench was another step in the right direction towards his comeback.
However, the young midfielder is already experiencing knee discomfort once more and worries that an earlier ailment will resurface.
Possible comeback date: October 21, 2023, against Arsenal.
Romeo Lavia
Romeo Lavia is still to make his debut for Chelsea after joining from Southampton in a deal worth £58million, having arrived lacking match fitness and then suffering an ankle injury in training.
While the midfielder has not suffered a setback as such, and a possible first match in Chelsea colors could happen in November, the club wants to be careful with the youngster.
Cole Palmer
Since his Deadline Day transfer from Manchester City, Cole Palmer has made an impression, scoring his first goal for the team in the last match before the break.
The teenage player started last week’s 9-1 victory for England‘s Under-21 team over Serbia despite a hamstring injury but was taken off at halftime.
We don’t take any chances with any of the players, but manager Lee Carsley assured reporters that Cole will be OK to assuage concerns over a catastrophic injury.
“If there is a slight doubt that they’re going to miss a game at the weekend, we get them back to the clubs as quickly as we can. We could’ve kept Cole here another day and seen how it was, but we didn’t think it was right. Everyone else is fine, a few colds and sniffles.”
Potential return date: Saturday 21 October 2023 vs Arsenal
Armando Broja
Chelsea has been hit with a fresh injury concern over Armando Broja after the striker was also forced to withdraw from international debut. Albania coach Sylvinho said: “As for Broja, I have to give bad news. He was with the team for only two days.
“After consulting with our doctors and Chelsea’s, he can’t make it, he won’t be ready for tomorrow. We have other players to evaluate.”
Broja has hit the ground running after coming back into the team after more than nine months on the sidelines with a serious knee injury, so any fresh injury doubts will be a huge concern to Mauricio Pochettino.
Potential return date: Saturday 21 October 2023 vs Arsenal
Axel Disasi
Disease was added to the France squad, along with Malo Gusto, as replacements for Jules Kounde and Dayot Upamecano, but withdrew just hours later with what the French Football Federation (FFF) described as a “tear in the quadriceps of the left thigh”.
He will no doubt now be assessed by the Blues’ medical staff, though it seems unlikely that he will be fit to play against title contenders Arsenal in a huge London derby straight after the break.
Potential return date: November 2023
Mykhailo Mudryk
Mudryk allayed fears of an injury by making a late cameo off the bench in the 4-1 comeback win at Burnley before the international break but needed treatment during Ukraine’s 2-0 win over North Macedonia last week before being substituted.
More clarity over his fitness is expected soon with Ukraine back in action on Tuesday.
Potential return date: Saturday 21 October 2023 vs Arsenal
Benoit Badiashile
The French defender is yet to kick a ball in anger so far this term after a hamstring problem sustained during pre-season.
Badiashile, however, is now finally back in training after one or two setbacks and could return to first-team action soon.
Potential return date: Saturday 28 October 2023 vs Brentford
Ben Chilwell
Vice-captain Chilwell suffered a hamstring injury late on in the Carabao Cup third-round win against Brighton and is not expected back until December at least.
It is the third such issue suffered by the England left-back in less than a year, causing concern at Chelsea.
Potential return date: December 2023
Christopher Nkunku
The big summer signing required knee surgery after a collision during a pre-season friendly against Borussia Dortmund in the United States.
Not yet back in team training, a return this year feels increasingly unlikely. However, Nkunku has posted positive videos on social media of him stepping up his workload and rehabilitation behind the scenes.
Potential return date: January 2024
Wesley Fofana
The luckless French defender faces a battle to play again this term following an ACL injury suffered during pre-season.
Potential return date: Summer 2024
