Chelsea FC are off for another week, as we continue dragging into the doldrums of another tedious international break. The Blues will have plenty of injury concerns when they stage their next fixture, Sept. 14th at AFC Bournemouth. Let’s get you updated, on the likes of Cole Palmer, Reece James, Romeo Lavia, Malo Gusto and Omari Kellyman.
Also, on a side note, it looks like Ben Chilwell, despite not being part of the plan for manager Enzo Maresca, is actually sticking around; at least until January.
Cole Palmer
Last year’s leading scorer made headline news this week as he was left out of the Conference League roster. It’s just muscle fatigue though, and he should be fine. He was left out, according to the club’s party line, as a precaution to manage minutes as Chelsea are competing for five trophies this year.
Reece James
More injury prone than even Christian Pulisic, he is actually nearing a return. He could be back for the next game.
Romeo Lavia
He was also left out of the Conference League roster, and again, according to the club’s party line, it’s just a precaution to manage minutes as Chelsea are competing for five trophies this year. Lavia has a troubled past with injuries though, so we need to be skeptical. Lavia has a hamstring injury that is being called “minor” for now.
Malo Gusto
He’s dealing with a thigh muscle injury, with Maresca being extremely vague, and very coy, saying on the first of the month: “We will see what happens. It looks like a muscle problem, and we are going to see.”
Omari Kellyman
Another thigh injury, but we’re more in the dark on this one. There isn’t much info out there.
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. 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, the Washington Post and ESPN. You can follow him on Linked In and Twitter.