The latest Chelsea team news, injury updates and predicted line-up ahead of their Premier League showdown with Nottingham Forest.
Chelsea return to Premier League action this weekend when they take on a struggling Nottingham Forest side in the early kick-off – but with a string of injuries affecting Enzo Maresca’s preparations, there’s a chance that the Chelsea line-up features several changes.
There have been fresh updates on the fitness of Cole Palmer, while international break injuries to Enzo Fernández, Moisés Caicedo and Reece James have caused concern – and several defenders who could start on Saturday are doubts as they make their way back from injuries. In total, Chelsea have no fewer than 13 players who are either out or doubts.
We’ve got all the latest team news below for you following Maresca’s pre-match press conference, along with our prediction for the Italian’s likely starting line-up.
Chelsea’s Cole Palmer out while Enzo Fernández and Moisés Caicedo are doubts
The headline news for Chelsea fans this weekend is that key playmaker Palmer is out for longer than first expected – the persistent groin injury that he has been struggling with since the summer will now force the Blues to shut him down for another six weeks, as announced by Maresca on Friday. It had initially been hoped that he would return after the November international break.
Complicating Maresca’s plans further, both Fernández and James withdrew from international duty this week, with Fernández – a potential replacement at number ten – suffering from an inflamed knee after picking up a knock on Argentina duty. James, who has often played as a defensive midfielder under Maresca, had a minor shin injury with forced him to drop out of the England squad, but he is fully fit.
It has also now emerged that Moisés Caicedo and winger Pedro Neto are major doubts, too. The nature of the injuries that they have apparently picked up over the last two weeks have not been revealed, but Maresca said that Caicedo, Neto and Fernández are not certain to be able to train on Friday. If they can’t practice at Cobham, then they will be out of tomorrow’s game.
Mixed injury news in defence for Chelsea
There is mixed news for Chelsea’s beaten-up defence – with the bad news being that Benoît Badiashile, who had only just returned to full fitness after missing the start of the season with a muscular injury, is now out until December thanks to a fresh injury.
There are more positive updates, however, with the news that Tosin Adarabioyo and Wesley Fofana have both returned to fitness and are in line to be involved on Saturday – while defensive midfielder Andrey Santos has recovered from a “small problem” as well. Josh Acheampong, who limped off against Liverpool in the second half, is believed to have fully recovered.
Long-term absentees include Levi Colwill (ACL), who will miss most of the rest of the season, Liam Delap (thigh), who isn’t due back until late November, Dário Essugo (thigh), who is out until January, and Mykhaylo Mudryk, who is suspended due to an alleged doping violation.
Maresca himself will, of course, be suspended too after he was shown a second yellow against Liverpool card for his exuberant celebrations following Chelsea’s late winner.
Chelsea predicted starting XI vs. Nottingham Forest: Sánchez; Cucurella, Adarabioyo, Acheampong, Gusto; Caicedo, James; Garnacho, Fernández, Estevão; João Pedro.
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