Chelsea head coach Xabi Alonso has said Saturday's training session will determine whether Moises Caicedo and Emi Martinez are available for the Premier League match at Sunderland on Sunday.
The visit to the Stadium of Light is Chelsea's final fixture before the international break, and Alonso faces a choice over his starting goalkeeper. Martinez has trained this week wearing a protective mask after recovering from jaw surgery more quickly than the club expected. Mike Penders, the 21-year-old, made one key error during Martinez's absence but has largely impressed in his place.
Caicedo fitness assessed after Manchester United match
Caicedo started in midfield against Manchester United last weekend but had a disrupted week of training after feeling discomfort following that game. Alonso and Chelsea's medical staff will use the final session before the Sunderland match to decide whether either player can feature against the Europa League side.
"Tomorrow we have the last training session before Sunday and we will decide [then]," said Alonso. "But he [Martinez] is training well. All the decisions are tough in all the positions, but it is very good that Emi has made a great effort to be back and is ahead of [the schedule]. Tomorrow we will check and Sunday we will take the final decision."
On Caicedo, Alonso added: "Well, after the last game he had little problems. We expect to check tomorrow. We have some different situations, and Moi is one of them. It is discomfort more than the [old] calf [injury]."
Hato ruled out and Palmer left out of England squad
Jorrel Hato missed the United game and will be absent again. "No, no, no — he is not fit," the Chelsea manager said. "It will take him some more weeks to be fit."
Earlier on Friday, Cole Palmer was omitted from Thomas Tuchel's England squad for the Nations League matches against Croatia and Spain next week. Palmer had been selected for last month's squad but withdrew with a minor injury before the four England games.
Asked at his Friday afternoon press conference whether he had spoken to Palmer about the omission, Alonso said: "No, we have not spoken about that. We are very happy with Cole. He is connecting very well with the other attackers and is helping the team."
