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

Allow Exco Player contentThis content is provided by Exco Player and may use cookies or similar technologies. Please click 'Allow and Continue' below to load the content.

Your weekly briefing on Chelsea, featuring team news and expert analysis from Dom Smith

I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice.

Chelsea are still dealing with a number of important injuries before they make their Premier League return against Bournemouth.

A quick loss in form and momentum under Xabi Alonso over recent weeks has coincided with the absence of several key players.

Star striker Joao Pedro has been the biggest loss, while Moises Caicedo has played only 14 minutes in total so far this season and Cole Palmer pulled out of the most recent England squad – much to the frustration of Thomas Tuchel.

Captain Reece James has also been sidelined again, though Chelsea fans will hope that the likes of summer signings Marco Palestra and Emmanuel Emegha may now be able to make an impact.

Here is all the latest Chelsea injury news and return dates ahead of top-flight action resuming at Stamford Bridge this weekend, with a few unnamed stars who have been sidelined playing in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Portsmouth at Cobham on Saturday, which the hosts lost 2-0.

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.

Such an issue also caused Joao Pedro to withdraw shortly after his return to Carlo Ancelotti’s Brazil squad, with Standard Sport understanding that he has been receiving treatment from a knee specialist.

Key trio: Chelsea will assess Joao Pedro, Reece James and Cole Palmer this weekGettyThat 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.

Palmer was among of raft of players to pull out of the most recent England squad for the start of the 2026/27 Nations League, which led Tuchel to lament that the player “misses way too many camps”.

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: Saturday October 10, vs Bournemouth (H)

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

WSL highlights: Pressure mounts on Arsenal as Chelsea get new rival

Transfer news LIVE: Haaland makes Arsenal decision; Nusa; Man Utd move

Chelsea sent clear Alex Scott message as huge transfer boost emerges

Choose the right education path for your child

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.

Frustration: Moises Caicedo has played only 14 minutes for Chelsea so far this seasonPACaicedo 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: Saturday October 10, vs Bournemouth (H)

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 too.

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: Saturday October 10, vs Bournemouth (H)

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.

Debut loading: Marco Palestra has yet to play in a competitive match for ChelseaGettyPalestra was one of the players expected to face Portsmouth before he hopes to be handed a first Premier League chance against Bournemouth.

Potential return date: Saturday October 10, vs Bournemouth (H)

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.

He was later spotted on crutches and returned to Chelsea early for assessment and treatment, before another period on the sidelines.

Potential return date: Unknown, pending further assessment

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 you would think he is now pushing to be involved against Bournemouth.

Potential return date: Saturday October 10, vs Bournemouth (H)

Quick recovery: Mike Penders has shrugged off a quad injury suffered with BelgiumGettyMike PendersChelsea’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 is expected to back up Manchester United’s Senne Lammens once more in Paris on Monday night.

Potential return date: Saturday October 10, vs Bournemouth (H)