Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca could be welcoming some big names back to the squad this weekend as they prepare to face Nottingham Forest at the City Ground on Saturday afternoon. The Blues are eager to continue their winning streak following a thrilling 2-1 victory against Liverpool before the international break, with Estevao Willian scoring a last-minute winner.
Meanwhile, Nottingham Forest's Ange Postecoglou is still in search of his first win. The former Tottenham manager has yet to secure a victory in his first seven games in charge of Forest, suffering five losses and two draws. Postecoglou doesn't have a particularly impressive track record against the Blues, losing all four of his previous encounters. And Chelsea have four players facing late fitness tests for the match - Enzo Fernandez, Reece James, Moises Caicedo and Tosin Adarabioyo...
Express Sport looks at the latest injury news and expected return dates from Stamford Bridge...
Enzo Fernandez
Fernandez had to withdraw from the Argentina squad last week due to inflammation in his right knee. The 24-year-old midfielder returned to Cobham shortly after playing 78 minutes in a 1-0 friendly defeat against Venezuela.
Expected return date: Nottingham Forest (A)
Reece James
James was forced to pull out of the England squad due to an injury, missing matches against Wales and Latvia. It's believed that the decision was made as a precaution and that the injury is not serious.
Expected return date: Nottingham Forest (A)
Moises Caicedo
Caicedo was absent from Ecuador's friendlies against the United States and Mexico this month. The 23-year-old midfielder has been carrying an injury, prompting national team boss Sebastian Beccacece to allow him to rest during the international break. Beccacece said: "About Moises, his coach [Maresca] said he's injured. He's not well."
Expected return date: Nottingham Forest (A)
Benoit Badiashile
Badiashile was substituted during Chelsea's victory over Liverpool prior to the international break. Willy Caballero offered an update on the 24 year old defender following the match, suggesting his substitution was merely precautionary. Caballero said: "It was just prevention. We spoke with them (Badiashile and Josh Acheampong) already, and they said that they are okay, so [it is] good for us."
Expected return date: Nottingham Forest (A)
Josh Acheampong
Acheampong also departed injured during Chelsea's victory over Liverpool, though he secured playing time during the international break. The 19-year-old defender featured for 78 minutes at left-back in England Under-21s' 4-0 triumph over Moldova.
Expected return date: Nottingham Forest (A)
Joao Pedro
Pedro, the 24-year-old forward, was given a break by Carlo Ancelotti due to a knock he had been nursing. He wasn't selected for the Brazil squad's Asia tour, allowing him two weeks of rest in west London.
Expected return date: Nottingham Forest (A)
Andrey Santos
The 21-year-old midfielder was also omitted from the Brazil squad this month due to a minor thigh problem. Maresca stated: "We lost Andrey Santos, who will be out until after the international break. We have seven or eight players out. It is difficult to pick the same XI, but it is what it is. We need to adapt."
Expected return date: Late October
Tosin Adarabioyo
Adarabioyo suffered a minor calf injury ahead of Chelsea's victory over Liverpool. Maresca confirmed that the 28-year-old defender will be out until the October international break, stating: "He will probably be out until the international break. He has a small injury in his calf."
Expected return date: Nottingham Forest (A)
Cole Palmer
Palmer, 23, was forced to leave during the first half of Chelsea's match against Manchester United due to a groin injury. He has missed each of the Blues' last four games across all competitions.
He was consequently ruled out of England's recent matches against Wales and Latvia. Thomas Tuchel warned Palmer that his injury could become 'chronic' if not properly treated.
What Maresca has said: "Yeah, we decided to protect a little bit, Cole, in terms of him not getting a worse injuries. So we decided to rest him for the next two, three weeks, probably until international break, just to see if with that rest he can be able to recover 100 per cent and to be completely fit after the international break.
"No, I don't think he needs surgery. It's just a matter of managing his pain and his groin. The amount of games is something that can happen. So this is the reason why we try to be conservative with him to give him rest, and hopefully he can be 100 per cent fit after the international break."
Expected return date: November
Liam Delap
Delap sustained a hamstring injury during Chelsea's 2-0 victory over Fulham just before the previous international break. Fortunately, the 22-year-old striker, whom the Blues acquired from Ipswich Town for £30m in the summer, did not require surgery on the problem.
What Maresca has said: "It's around 10 to 12 weeks."
Expected return date: November
Dario Essugo
Essugo picked up a thigh injury during the September international break. The club confirmed that the Portugal Under-21 midfielder, who Chelsea acquired from Sporting CP this summer, underwent surgery and has been enrolled in a rehabilitation programme at Cobham training ground.
Expected return date: Early 2026
Levi Colwill
Colwill sustained an anterior cruciate ligament injury at the beginning of pre-season. Maresca will be desperate to have the 22-year-old defender back, but the Chelsea manager won't be keen to hurry his return and risk worsening the problem.
What Maresca has said: "Levi's injury is ACL injury, so it is not one month or two months, it is six, seven or eight months. For sure, he will be back, but it is not something we are worried about."
Expected return date: April