[Chelsea striker Joao Pedro has pulled out of Brazil’s upcoming international games due to injury](https://x.com/CBF_Futebol/status/2100265297034743972?s=20). It appears the Blues will not have him available for this weekend’s trip to Brentford.
The 24-year-old has been in sparkling form this season, bagging three goals and three assists in four Premier League outings, winning August’s Player of the Month award.
Pedro provided the assist for Morgan Rogers’ opener as Chelsea drew 2-2 with Ipswich Town at Stamford Bridge last weekend before netting the crucial equaliser.
[Chelsea take on Brentford](https://footballtoday.com/2026/09/16/chelsea-head-into-brentford-clash-with-plenty-to-prove/) this Friday and will seemingly have to make do without one-third of their attacking trio, which includes Cole Palmer and Rogers.
Danny Welbeck will start ahead of the Brazilian international if he is not fit to play. Emanuel Emegha is not yet back from the injury that has seen him miss Chelsea’s first five games of the season.
It is a major blow for the Blues as they now have to navigate this already tricky fixture without one of their most potent attacking forces.
The Club World Cup champions are light in midfield, with manager Xabi Alonso forced to use Malo Gusto and Reece James in the engine room.
Unfortunately, Romeo Lavia doesn’t have the intensity to play in a double pivot, Valentin Barco is diminutive, and Jordan Henderson is just returning to full fitness.
The Bees have a very powerful midfield pairing in Vitaliy Janelt and Mamadou Sangare. They could prove too much for Chelsea to handle.
Brentford (7th) sit just below Chelsea (6th) on the league table. The Blues have not won on any of their last five visits to the Gtech Community Stadium.
Chelsea will be desperate for three points to keep the pressure on early challengers Arsenal and Manchester City. They are already five points behind and must be eager not to lose further ground.