The international break has begun for the third time this season, leaving Chelsea and Mauricio Pochettino concerned about managing their players’ involvements. Many of Chelsea’s squad members have dispersed globally for international duty, including Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo, who previously participated in South American World Cup qualifiers.
Pochettino faces a slightly reduced squad, though still strong, with Reece James training at Cobham. Thiago Silva, however, has been granted some time off.
The primary concern revolves around the players engaging in international matches, as the risk of injuries and delayed returns preoccupy Chelsea’s coaching staff ahead of the Premier League’s resumption. football.london explores the potential outcomes, ranging from favorable to challenging scenarios, over the next seven days.
Ideally, Chelsea could utilize the period between now and their match against Newcastle to rest their players. Pochettino is optimistic about the recovery of Christopher Nkunku and Romeo Lavia, aiming to work closely with them if their progress permits.
Levi Colwill’s exit from the England squad provides an opportunity for his recovery from a shoulder injury and a probable return to face Newcastle. Despite absences, Pochettino has options for a solid back four, with Reece James, Benoit Badiashile, and Marc Cucurella available for training.
As Fernandez and Caicedo are expected to play until the early hours of Wednesday morning, swift substitutions could grant some much-needed rest. For Djordje Petrovic, a third cap could provide valuable game time, while Ian Maatsen’s extended play for the Netherlands Under-21s might aid his momentum after a brief appearance against Gibraltar.
Noni Madueke and Mykhailo Mudryk would benefit from scoring for England Under-21s and Ukraine, respectively. Madueke has seen limited Premier League starts for Chelsea this season.
Considering his recent form, Cole Palmer deserves a full debut. Continued confidence and momentum would be beneficial for him, and Nicolas Jackson scoring a goal or two for Senegal would also be welcomed by the Blues.
Worst-case scenario
Chelsea’s worst-case scenario would involve injuries and late returns, exactly opposite to the positive scenarios described above. Conor Gallagher’s situation might pose the biggest threat, with concerns raised by Gareth Southgate about the midfielder’s fitness upon arriving at the England camp. Despite arriving with an injury, Gallagher’s strong determination to play might backfire if he’s not fully fit, risking further complications.
