Chelsea are hoping for a triple fitness boost after the international break, with Josh Acheampong, Emi Martinez and Joao Pedro all closing in on returns. The Blues head into the pause in fixtures on the back of a penalty defeat at Sunderland, a result that dropped them to fifth in the Premier League behind Liverpool.
Acheampong and Martinez nearing comeback
Josh Acheampong was left out of the travelling party to the Stadium of Light after starting the previous games. Xabi Alonso revealed the defender had been struck down with a niggle.
"He is recovering from a minor thing," the Chelsea boss said. "He missed the fitness to be ready for today but we are expecting that he will be back after the international break. It's a pity because he was in a good moment."
Argentine international Martinez has sat out the Blues' last four matches having had surgery on a broken jaw. He was clattered by Everton's Jarrad Branthwaite last month and was expected to be out for six weeks. He has since returned to training, but it was ultimately decided that he would not be risked against Sunderland, despite being fit enough to start.
"He has made a great effort to be available but probably it was too rash, too risky [to be selected]," Alonso said.
"So he will use one more week, 10 days, to keep on training and get used to the mask. I'm sure after the break he will be available."
Pedro and James updates
In-form striker Joao Pedro has been one of the west Londoners' biggest misses. The Brazilian sat out Chelsea's home defeat by Tottenham having sustained a thigh problem the day before the derby. He has remained with his club rather than going away with his country on international duty.
"No, not really updates," Alonso said of the forward ahead of the trip to Sunderland. "For sure, we are not expecting them for [Sunday]. Let's see after the international break the recovery that they [have] made. Ahead of the Leeds game, I will have more [news] but not today."
Captain Reece James picked up a knee injury in training last month having just recovered from a hamstring problem. He underwent "minor" surgery in October, but there is no official timeline on when he could return. However, Standard Sport understands that it is likely to be around three months before James is back in action.
Lacroix and others facing longer spells
Summer signing Maxence Lacroix was forced off with a hamstring injury in the Carabao Cup defeat at Liverpool. The Frenchman missed the win over Manchester United and then the visit to Sunderland, with Alonso saying that he would be out until at least the international break.
"Max picked up an injury and we expect that he will not be ready before the international break. So he will be a few weeks out," Alonso said a fortnight ago.
Reports have since suggested that the Blues fear Lacroix is in a similar predicament to James, and will not feature again until the turn of the year.
Dutch international Jorrel Hato did not travel to Liverpool for that penalty defeat, and he was also not in the squad against United or Sunderland. Alonso revealed that he was struggling with a back problem, but there is hope that he could return after the international break.
"No, no, no — he is not fit," Alonso said of the versatile defender ahead of the trip to Wearside. "It will take him some more weeks to be fit."
England winger Jamie Gittens has not played in the league at all for the Blues this term. He has featured just twice — both games in the Carabao Cup — and his latest injury setback has been an ankle problem picked up on international duty with the England Under-21s, where he was spotted after the game against Kazakhstan on crutches. Alonso's most recent update on the forward was that he was still out for "weeks", and it remains to be seen as to whether he will play again before the year is out.
