Chelsea injury update: Cole Palmer, Moises Caicedo, Joao Pedro latest news and return dates

The Blues have come through the international break with only a couple of new concerns, with Jamie Gittens having picked up a nasty ankle injury, but their more pressing issues came before the Premier League broke up.

Reece James, Cole Palmer and Joao Pedro were all uninvolved for their nations in this international break due to injuries of varying severity, while Caicedo has been sidelined for the vast majority of the season so far.

With a tricky Bournemouth side coming to Stamford Bridge this weekend, Xabi Alonso could be without as many as seven first-team players.

With that said, here is all the latest Chelsea injury news and potential return dates...

Cole Palmer

It was reported that Palmer - who was hampered for much of last season by a long-term groin injury - had then gone abroad on holiday and was working on his fitness with the help of a rehabilitation coach.

There seems to be hope that he will be available for selection against Bournemouth.

Potential return date: October 10 vs Bournemouth (H)

Cole Palmer

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Moises Caicedo

Alonso has been able to use Caicedo for only 14 minutes so far this season as a result of the persistent calf issue that has limited him to one substitute cameo - against former club Brighton - which quickly ended in him being brought off again.

The midfielder was not called up by Ecuador for friendlies against South Korea, Japan and Panama in a bid to help him fully shake off the problem.

Caicedo was not involved against Brentford, though Alonso had suggested that he was close. Provided there have been no further setbacks since then, he should be in contention to face Bournemouth.Potential return date: October 10 vs Bournemouth (H)

Moises Caicedo and Reece James are both carrying issues

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Joao Pedro

Chelsea’s reigning player of the season rescued a draw at home to newly-promoted Hull on his last appearance, but news of an injury subsequently emerged and Alonso remained coy before he missed the dismal 3-0 defeat by west London rivals Brentford before the international break.

That is as part of an attempt to speed up his comeback, with initial reports in his homeland suggesting that the former Brighton frontman could be out for up to four weeks.

An exact return date is unclear, but it should be at some point in October if he’s ruled out against Bournemouth.

Potential return date: Late October

Joao Pedro

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Reece James

Chelsea’s influential captain missed the defeat at Brentford with the latest in a long line of hamstring injuries and was unavailable for England selection.

However, Alonso said before that game that he only just missed out, so you would expect him to also be back some three weeks later when the Blues take on Bournemouth.

Potential return date: October 10 vs Bournemouth (H)

Marco Palestra

Chelsea’s £27million summer signing from Atalanta has yet to make his competitive debut in English football despite impressing during pre-season, having picked up a muscle injury in training in the days before their opening match against rivals Fulham.

He has been working his way back ever since and now looks poised to finally return, having been seen back training fully at Cobham in recent weeks.

Palestra was one of the players expected to face Portsmouth in a behind-closed-doors before he hopes to be handed a first Premier League chance against Bournemouth.

Potential return date: October 10 vs Bournemouth (H)

Jamie Gittens

Gittens started for England’s Under-21s in their 2027 European Championship qualifier against Kazakhstan at Molineux last week, but was taken off late in the first half with an ankle injury.

Potential return date: Unknown

Emmanuel Emegha

Like fellow summer signing Palestra, Emegha has yet to make his competitive Chelsea debut as the result of a hamstring injury sustained after scoring in the behind-closed-doors friendly win against Bromley in July.

He has been sidelined since then, though was included by Alonso in the group of players that he said could be ready for selection against Brentford.

That didn’t happen in the end, but he has been pictured in training throughout the international break and it seems he is pushing to be involved against Bournemouth.

Potential return date: October 10 vs Bournemouth (H)

Mike Penders

Chelsea’s back-up goalkeeper went away on international duty with Belgium, but suffered a quad injury in training that saw him omitted from Mark van Bommel’s squads to face Italy and France.

However, he returned to the bench against Turkey and France, and has been pictured in first-team training at Cobham this week.