Danny Welbeck is still expected to be available for [Chelsea](https://roundtable.io/sports/soccer/premier-league/chelsea)'s season-opening Premier League game against Fulham on Monday despite a “little” fitness issue.
This came as a surprise, since the 35-year-old had been involved in Chelsea’s pre-season games against Juventus and AC Milan in Hong Kong and Indonesia, respectively, just a week earlier.
“He can be involved,” Alonso reassured during his press conference later on Thursday, when asked about Welbeck’s training plan.
“He just needed a couple of days not training as much because of a little thing, but we're expecting him to be back on Saturday (for team training).
“We need to go day by day, but that's the plan at the moment.”
Joao Pedro remains the first-choice number nine at Chelsea, but Welbeck’s presence on the bench would give Alonso more tactical options.
Welbeck made the starting line-up twice during the pre-season, and on both occasions, he started alongside Joao Pedro.
Both Welbeck and the Brazilian are versatile, each capable of playing as a number nine and as a second striker. It provides an intriguing dynamic, as they can switch positions and drag defenders out of position to create space for the Blues to exploit.
The presence of Morgan Rogers and Cole Palmer as a pair of number 10s behind a striker minimises the need for this game plan, but having it in the bag when you need a goal could prove beneficial.
Alonso does not have many number 10 options in the squad. Aside from Palmer and Rogers, who are expected to start, Estevao Willian and perhaps Enzo Fernandez are the only natural choices.
It is safe to assume that Joao Pedro, despite being the primary goal-getter, also plays the role of a backup number 10.
Another likely striker option in Alonso’s projected first-team squad is Emmanuel Emegha.
Emegha missed the pre-season tour of Australia and Asia due to a hamstring injury but returned to training earlier this month. However, like Welbeck, he missed Chelsea's match against Real Sociedad at Stamford Bridge last weekend.
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