Chelsea have several players fighting for fitness ahead of Burnley next up.placeholder image
Chelsea have several players fighting for fitness ahead of Burnley next up. | Getty Images
Updates on Chelsea’s current injury list as concerns rack up for Enzo Maresca’s side
Chelsea return from the international break with a trip to Burnley at 12:30pm on Saturday and will hope to build on the solid start to the season which has seen the Blues sat in third place in the table.
The newly-promoted Clarets have rarely been thrashed so far on their top-flight return and will no doubt put up a fight against their more esteemed opponents, knowing that the form of West Ham United and Nottingham Forest below them has closed the gap on Scott Parker’s men in 17th.
Chelsea have had to contend with a variety of injury concerns so far this campaign, partly caused by the after-effects of their involvement in the Club World Cup over the summer. The Blues will be hoping to have some of their most important players back in contention on Saturday, amidst a series of recent updates.
Cole Palmer
We may finally have reached good news regarding the return of Chelsea star man Cole Palmer, as it has been reported by The Standard that both the club and manager Maresca are hoping to have Palmer back in the side to face Barcelona in the Champions League next week.
The 23-year-old has not played since September due to a recurring knee problem and a December return had previously been touted, but those at the club are increasingly confident that the England international will be available when Barca come to town in seven days’ time on November 25.
While a cameo off the bench against Burnley has been ‘mooted’ and is not out of the question at present, it is the aim of the club to have Palmer back when Lamine Yamal, Marcus Rashford and co. visit Stamford Bridge, in one of the Blues’ most high-profile matches of the season so far.
Expected return date: Barcelona (H), November 25
Pedro Neto
Portugal international Pedro Neto has not been in action over the international break, after the 25-year-old dropped out of the Portuguese camp due to a groin injury he picked up for Chelsea late on against former side Wolves last time out. Neto was replaced that day and it was subsequently announced by the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) that he would be released back to Chelsea to aid his recovery.
The FPF said in a statement: "Pedro Neto and Pedro Goncalves have been released from the national team for the matches against the Republic of Ireland and Armenia.
"The Portuguese international winger will not join Martinez's squad, in a decision made jointly by Chelsea's medical department and the FPF's Health and Performance Department, due to physical problems that limit the player."
Neto has since returned to Chelsea training and is expected to return to fitness ahead of Saturday’s trip to Burnley.
Expected return date: Burnley (A), November 22
Enzo Fernandez
Argentina international Enzo Fernandez also ruled himself out of international duty after the midfielder asked to be substituted against Wolves, following a knee injury.
The 24-year-old said of his decision: “I will not be available with Argentina. I was just talking to the medical team because I had a problem with my knee in the last 4 months. I came with a bone edema that got worse in the last weeks and months because we played a lot of games.
“I think the most important thing is coming to the end of the season and I think it's good to make this decision together. Always respecting the doctors and everything.”
Argentina only had a single international friendly with Angola over the break, having already secured qualification for the World Cup, and so it is not yet clear whether or not Fernandez’s decision not to take part was merely precautionary. He will be assessed ahead of the weekend’s Premier League encounter with the Clarets.
Expected return date: Unknown
Jamie Gittens
Chelsea and England Under-21 winger Jamie Gittens has begun to settle into life at Stamford Bridge in recent weeks, not least with his stunning long-range strike at Wolves in the Carabao Cup. But Gittens limped off for Lee Carsley’s Young Lions on Friday night to add a fresh injury concern for the Blues.
The 21-year-old headed straight down the tunnel after evading a challenge from the Republic of Ireland’s James McManus, which had led to him being substituted just after the hour mark.
However, it appears as though the knock was not too serious, as Gittens might yet be available for England U21’s upcoming fixture against Slovakia on Thursday. In that case, Chelsea will hope that he does not pick up any further injury concerns and is available for selection at Turf Moor.
Expected return date: Burnley (A), November 22
December return anticipated for two Chelsea stars
Romeo Lavia - December: The midfielder has been struck down with another injury issue following a difficult first couple of years at the club, which have yielded just 30 appearances since summer 2023. Lavia was replaced after just five minutes during Chelsea’s 2-2 draw with Qarabag and was subsequently ruled out for a month with a thigh injury, meaning he is expected to miss out on upcoming encounters with Burnley, Barcelona and Arsenal. A return against Leeds or Bournemouth is possible.
Benoit Badiashile - December: Similarly to Lavia, Badiashile has struggled to stay consistently fit since his 2023 arrival at Chelsea. The Frenchman has missed the last seven matches with his last fitness complaint, but should be available again by early December.
Maresca said in October: “Benoit will be out until December, injury again. A muscle problem. He was doing fantastic, he showed all of this, he showed how he needed, and we're going to wait for him.”
Two long-term absentees remain on treatment table for Blues
Dario Essugo - January: The young midfielder has been out since September, when he suffered a thigh injury while away with Portugal’s U21s. He is reportedly expected to be back in contention around January, though no official return date has been mooted. The youngster has yet to make his competitive Chelsea debut, and it may still be some time before he eventually does.
Levi Colwill - Summer 2026: The unfortunate ACL injury picked up by 22-year-old centre-back Colwill was a major blow for the Blues ahead of the new season. He underwent surgery in early August and is still in the early stages of recovery, not expected to be back in contention until the back end of the 2025/26 season at the very least.
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