Chelsea head into a congested run of fixtures with a fresh injury headache after both Moises Caicedo and summer arrival Marco Palestra were omitted from the matchday squad for the club's away trip to Fulham at Craven Cottage.
The absence of Caicedo in particular came as a surprise, given his status as a regular fixture in Xabi Alonso's midfield. In his place, the Chelsea manager opted for a pivot of Reece James and Romeo Lavia. Despite the setback, there were no obvious signs of concern, as Caicedo was present at the stadium and did not appear to be carrying any visible issue.
Speaking to Sky Sports before kick-off, Alonso explained the decision was a precautionary one following a minor issue picked up in training during the week. "During the week (Caicedo and Palestra) had setbacks. With Moi, we don't want to take risks. They were not ready to play tonight. We go week-by-week, but they were not ready for tonight," the head coach said.
While no definitive return date has been confirmed, Chelsea will be hopeful that Caicedo can return to action when Luton Town visit Stamford Bridge for the Carabao Cup fixture on August 27, or shortly after as the Blues also prepare to host Brighton in the Premier League at the weekend.
Palestra, who joined the club over the summer, faces a similarly uncertain timeline. The young defender had been expected to be handed a starting role against Fulham after a string of impressive performances throughout pre-season, but Alonso grouped him alongside Caicedo when discussing the injury situation, again describing the issue as a minor "setback." Should his recovery progress smoothly, the Luton Town clash could present an opportunity for Palestra to make his competitive debut for the club.
Elsewhere, Chelsea's injury list remains a lengthy one. Jordan Henderson, who suffered a broken wrist while on international duty with England over the summer, continues to work his way back to full match sharpness. Though he has been spotted taking part in team training sessions this week, he was not included in the squad that traveled to face Fulham. His absence appears to stem more from a lack of match fitness than any fresh issue, meaning supporters could see him return to competitive action before too long, though the club's own projections point toward a return closer to September 2026.
Summer signing Emmanuel Emegha remains sidelined as well, having sustained a hamstring injury back in July that forced him to miss the club's pre-season tour. He has yet to be included in a matchday squad since sustaining the injury, and no firm timeline has been given for when he might make his Chelsea debut.
Defender Aaron Anselmino, who had been expected to depart on loan this season, now appears set to remain at Stamford Bridge for treatment after suffering a hamstring problem during the pre-season tour. He was withdrawn after half an hour during a friendly win over Johor Darul Ta'zim and has not featured since. Given his history of hamstring trouble, Chelsea are expected to proceed cautiously with his rehabilitation, and no return date has been set.
Young defender Mamadou Sarr also picked up a knock during the same pre-season fixture against Johor Darul Ta'zim, forcing him out of the starting lineup. Details on his condition remain scarce, and reports suggesting a loan move to Real Sociedad could mean he does not feature for Chelsea at all this season regardless of his recovery.
With a Carabao Cup tie against Luton Town and a Premier League meeting with Brighton both on the horizon, Alonso will be monitoring his squad's fitness closely in the coming days.
Based on reporting from Standard Football.