Danny Welbeck trained individually on Thursday, and that sent a flicker of alarm through Chelsea’s fanbase. The club’s new manager, Xabi Alonso, though Chelsea injury news watchers will be relieved to hear, was quick to pour cold water on it. A “little thing,” he called it, and confirmed Welbeck’s workload was managed deliberately that day. The £15m summer arrival from Brighton is expected back in full training by Saturday and is on course to make his competitive debut at Craven Cottage on Monday. Straight in, no fuss.
Chelsea injury news: Alonso calms fears ahead of Fulham opener
The bigger story, really, is the clearance Alonso handed to six players who returned late from this summer’s World Cup. Reece James, Enzo Fernandez, Maxence Lacroix, Morgan Rogers, Valentin Barco, and Malo Gusto are available for the matchday squad. Alonso does not have concerns about their physical condition, though he acknowledged they may take a few more weeks before they are operating at peak intensity. Given Chelsea’s squad depth this season, that’s a problem Alonso can actually manage quite comfortably.
There was also a notably positive update on Levi Colwill. The defender missed most of last season after undergoing ACL surgery, and Alonso confirmed he is now close to full fitness. That’s a significant development for a backline that is still finding its shape. The Evening Standard‘s Arthur Ferridge broke the story, and it offered a far cleaner picture than Chelsea fans had feared going into the week.
Chelsea injury news aside, can Alonso’s side actually beat Fulham?
Chelsea enter this fixture in a strong position. The pre-season win over Real Sociedad, 3-1, gave a real glimpse of what Alonso is building: progressive passing lanes, width used properly, and a front line that looked sharp going forward. Cole Palmer, João Pedro, and a fit Colwill all featured prominently in those pre-season showings, and the chemistry looked genuine rather than manufactured.
The £313m summer outlay has genuinely strengthened the spine. Lacroix arrives as a composed ball-playing centre-back, and Morgan Rogers, signed for a British-record £117m, offers something different in attacking transition. Bookmakers and analysts assign Chelsea a 49.7% win probability for this away trip, and that figure feels honest rather than generous.
That said, Robert Sanchez in goal remains a concern. His decision-making still makes defenders nervous at times, and a brand-new Lacroix-Fofana partnership at centre-back will face its first real test under competitive pressure. Alonso’s positional system demands disciplined defensive transitions, and it takes time to wire that in correctly.
The absence of European football this season gives Alonso an invaluable preparation window week to week. Moisés Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez in midfield should control tempo efficiently, and Chelsea injury news permitting, a 2-0 or 2-1 win at Craven Cottage looks the most likely outcome.