Our Chelsea writers discuss and debate what they would do if they were in Xabi Alonso's shoes for this weekend's clash between the Blues and Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge
Joao Pedro
Joao Pedro suffered a knee injury before the international break(Image: Catherine Ivill - AMA)
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The wait is nearly over. Chelsea play football in a little over 24 hours' time.
What has felt like the longest international break - extended to three weeks rather than the usual two - is now over and the Premier League returns this weekend. For Chelsea, a tough test against Bournemouth awaits at Stamford Bridge, with Xabi Alonso determined to put an end to their top-flight woes in recent times with all three points against the Cherries.
Alonso is set to update the public this afternoon over his injured stars and whether they are fit enough to take part on Saturday. Before that, though, there is a lot of speculation over who will and won't play against Bournemouth.
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With that being said, Bobby Vincent and Jake Stokes discuss and debate the line-up they would choose if they were in Alonso's shoes, and the two have reached an agreement over what they would do with Cole Palmer.
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Bobby Vincent
This is a very difficult team to call with all of the uncertainty regarding the fitness of a handful of crucial players in Alonso's squad.
Fortunately, there are no injury concerns - that we know of - when it comes to the goalkeeper and defence. Emiliano Martinez is set to return to Cobham today and will only have time to train once before tomorrow's game, but even so, the Argentina goalkeeper is expected to start against the Cherries.
Maxence Lacroix and Levi Colwill should start as two of the back three, but the third defender is the more curious choice. Wesley Fofana or Josh Acheampong? Personally, I would like to see the latter come in for the former, who was far from his best against Brentford last time out.
Josh Acheampong
Chelsea think Josh Acheampong has a big future at Stamford Bridge(Image: Brendon Thorne)
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It will be a big boost to hopefully see Marco Palestra in the side. The Italian wing-back hasn't played a competitive match for Chelsea since signing in the summer transfer window but could be set to start on the right-hand side. Whether or not he gets 90 minutes is a different question, though you would suspect not.
Pep Chavarria did well against Brentford, so the Spaniard deserves to keep his place on the left side. In the centre of midfield, let's hope Moises Caicedo is fit. If he is, then I would be tempted to give him an hour, alongside Romeo Lavia.
In the attacking three, if Palmer isn't 100% fit, I would look to use him from the bench because Chelsea have a more than able deputy in Estevao Willian, who shone for Brazil in the international break. He deserves a go, with Morgan Rogers on the left wing.
Estevao Willian celebrates
Estevao Willian is yet to start a Premier League game under Xabi Alonso(Image: Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC)
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Given Joao Pedro's injury was to do with his knee, Alonso might be reluctant to throw him straight back in. He might not even have the choice (we should know after his press conference) but either way, Danny Welbeck should keep his place as the No.9 as he looks for his first Premier League goal for the Blues.
Bobby's XI (3-4-3): Martinez; Acheampong, Lacroix, Colwill; Palestra, Caicedo, Lavia, Chavarria; Estevao, Rogers, Welbeck
Jake Stokes
I'd like to see Alonso make three changes to the Chelsea starting line-up that faced Brentford just before the international break, starting with a small tweak at the back. The Blues could do with someone who's capable of relieving pressure by effectively carrying the ball out of defence and dragging the side up the pitch if the build-up becomes stale or stagnant.
So, Acheampong should replace Fofana on the right of the back three. As much as I'd like to see Palestra back in the starting line-up, Chavarria and Pedro Neto should remain at wing-back, with Lavia and Jordan Henderson in the middle of the park.
Jordan Henderson
Jordan Henderson impressed on his Chelsea debut against Brentford(Image: Alex Pantling)
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Although I'd much rather see Reece James start alongside Lavia, he hasn't been spotted in action at Cobham this week, which doesn't exactly fill me with confidence. Palmer also hasn't been pictured on the grass at the training base in Surrey either, yet he still makes my predicted starting line-up...Anyway, up top, I'd like to see Estevao join Rogers and Palmer in the front three. I would completely understand the reasoning behind selecting Welbeck instead, but Estevao deserves a start.Welbeck hardly set the world alight in the defeat to Brentford, and, with Joao Pedro nursing a knock, there may not be a better time to trial a free-flowing, striker-less attack. Alonso could always make a change at half-time or on the hour mark if needs be!
Jake's XI (3-4-3): Martinez; Acheampong, Lacroix, Colwill; Neto, Henderson, Lavia, Chavarria; Estevao, Palmer, Rogers