Chelsea is currently dealing with several injury concerns as the team prepares for their upcoming fixtures. Cole Palmer, a key attacker for Chelsea, is undergoing assessment and may miss the team’s match against Bournemouth on Saturday due to a groin injury.
Palmer’s injury forced him to miss Lee Carsley’s first national team selection during the international break. Despite having a strong start to the season with one goal and four assists in three matches, Palmer’s participation in the upcoming game is uncertain. His current fitness level is estimated at approximately 75%, indicating that while he may return, there is a chance he could be sidelined.
Reece James, another crucial player for Chelsea, will be absent from the next game against Bournemouth due to a thigh injury he aggravated during pre-season. James previously experienced a similar thigh issue last season, which kept him out for almost half the year. Unfortunately, he is not yet ready to make a return and is expected to miss not only the Bournemouth match but also a few additional games before being fit to rejoin the starting lineup. The anticipated date for James’s return is September 28, when Chelsea will face Brighton.
Romeo Lavia, who sustained a thigh injury during Chelsea’s 6-2 victory over Wolves at the end of August, is also under evaluation. Although the injury is described as a minor hamstring pull, Lavia’s current fitness level is only 25%. However, Enzo Maresca has stated that the injury is not too serious, suggesting that Lavia may return sooner rather than later. There is a possibility that he could be fit for the Bournemouth game on Saturday.
Malo Gusto, a defender for Chelsea, has been struggling with a thigh issue since being substituted during the 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace on September 1. Maresca indicated that it appears to be a muscle problem, but it is not yet clear whether Gusto will be available for the upcoming match against Bournemouth. Given Gusto’s relatively low injury history, there is hope that he might recover quickly
Omari Kellyman, who joined Chelsea from Aston Villa for £19 million this summer, is still recovering from an injury sustained while at Villa Park last season. The young player has been dealing with a persistent thigh injury and is not yet nearing a return to full fitness. No specific return date has been provided for Kellyman, and he remains sidelined with an unknown timeline for his comeback.
