Chelsea FC head into the September-October internationals (yes, it’s a combo platter international break) sitting in the very last position on the first page of the standings. Yes, 10th place, which is as “mid” as the kids like to say, as it gets. Injuries are a big reason why Chelsea are so pedestrian thus far this season. With midfield maestro Moises Caicedo and summer signing Marco Palestra the goalposts just keep getting moved backed on when they might feature again.
With both Caicedo and Palestra, it has been getting there/close/50-50/needs to pass late fitness test/a doubt for the past few matches. But every time, the delay continues, and the wait drags on.
Chelsea Injury Update Part 2: go here
Moises Caicedo
The Ecuadorian’s calf injury has certainly been a nagging one, and his absence has really been felt. Caicedo has only played 14 minutes, in total, so far this campaign. He was left out of the Ecuador squad for this international window, so the extra three weeks should really do him some good.
Hopefully, he’ll be ready for the next one, a home match against AFC Bournemouth on October 10.
Marco Palestra
The debut of the Italian defender, signed early in the summer window from Atalanta, is highly anticipated. It is also severely delayed. It is hard to say what is going on his with injury, but it is of the unspecified/undisclosed nature. It was also labeled a “knock” right before the season opener, but obviously it is not that. A knock is a minor thing, which is shaken off and recovered from in a couple days.
Palestra, who was supposed to be on the cusp of returning a couple times already, has something else. Hard to speculate on when he’ll be available again.
Cole Palmer
He’ll miss out on international duty due to an unspecified muscular injury, but this is much more about load management than anything else. With Palmer, the concern is more precautionary, and less about injury. He will be fine for the next match.
Squad Injury Updates: September/October International Break
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Paul M. Banks is the Founding Editor of The Sports Bank. He’s also the author of “Transatlantic Passage: How the English Premier League Redefined Soccer in America,” and “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry.”
He currently contributes to USA Today’s NFL Wires Network, Ratings and RG. His past bylines include the New York Daily News, Sports Illustrated and the Chicago Tribune. His work has been featured in numerous outlets, including the Wall Street Journal, Forbes and the Washington Post.