Chelsea will face Sunderland in the Premier League with both teams dealing with several injury concerns
Xabi Alonso, manager of Chelsea
Xabi Alonso has provided an injury update on the Chelsea squad(Image: Carl Recine/Getty Images)
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Both Chelsea and Sunderland will have players on the sidelines when they meet in the Premier League this weekend. The Blues will be determined to claim all three points when they make the trip to the Stadium of Light in their final match before the international break gets underway.
Xabi Alonso’s side go into the game on the back of a 2-0 victory over Manchester United last weekend, but were beaten by Tottenham Hotspur the week prior.
Chelsea are currently in fourth place in the Premier League table, and victory over Sunderland on Wearside would help boost the Blues’ Champions League qualification hopes.
However, Alonso will have to go into the game against Sunderland with several key players unavailable for selection.
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Joao Pedro and Maxence Lacroix are confirmed absentees for Chelsea this weekend, with Alonso providing an update on the duo in his latest press conference.
“For sure, we are not expecting them for tomorrow,” Alonso said. “That's clear. Let's see after these two weeks of the international break, how is their recovery, the progress that they make, and, for sure, ahead of the Leeds game, I will have more updates, but not today.”
Chelsea will also be without Jorrel Hato, with Alonso providing a timeline for the defender to return to the matchday squad.
“No, no, no, he's he's he's not fit. He's not fit,” Alonso said. “It will take some more weeks. Not not, not yet to be close, so maybe after the international, but it's going to take longer.”
Chelsea also face a wait to discover if Emi Martinez will be available, with the goalkeeper returning to training after undergoing surgery on a fractured jaw last week.
“Tomorrow, we have the last training session before Sunday, and we will decide, but he's training. He's training well,” Alonso said.
“All the decisions are tough; you know the positions, but it's very good that Emi has made a great effort to be back, that he's been, you know, ahead of the plans to be part of the team, and tomorrow we will check, and Sunday we will take the final decision.”
There are also question marks about the fitness of Moises Caicedo, who Alonso said suffered some “problems” after the win over United last weekend.
“Well, he was after the last game he had little problems, so we expect to check tomorrow different situation, and Moi is one of them.”
When asked if it was a fresh injury, Alonso replied: “It's a discomfort more than the calf.”
Joao Pedro
Joao Pedro is set to be out until after the international break with a thigh injury(Image: Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC)
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Jordan Henderson could return for Chelsea after missing the win over United last weekend through illness. Alonso did not provide an update on Henderson in his latest press conference, but did speak about the England international last week.
“He's ill,” Alonso said on October 31. “There’s no injury, but he was not feeling well yesterday and today had a fever in the morning, so he was not feeling good enough to come with the team.”
Reece James and Jamie Gittens remain sidelined for Chelsea and will not return in time to feature against Sunderland.
For Chelsea’s opponents, Sunderland will also have some players unavailable for selection for the clash at the Stadium of Light.
Habib Diarra is unavailable for Regis Le Bris’ side with a thigh injury, while Romaine Mundle (knee) is also an absentee for the home side.
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Dan Ballard is also unavailable for Sunderland with a hamstring injury, while the Black Cats will also be without Omar Alderete, who will miss the match against Chelsea through suspension.
Sunderland will hope to have Nordi Mukiele and Juan Riquelme Angulo both available, though, with the duo spending time on the sidelines in recent weeks.