Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca confirmed Cole Palmer will undergo a late fitness check ahead of Saturday’s trip to Brentford after an Instagram post hinted at a return. The post was captioned “soon back”, but Maresca made clear no selection decision has been taken yet.

“Cole took part in the session yesterday for the first time, not the entire session,” Maresca told his Friday news conference. “We have one more session this afternoon and we are going to try with him to see if he’s OK, otherwise he will be out tomorrow.” He added context on Palmer’s recovery: “He is recovering from an injury, it’s not managing him, it’s recovering from an injury. When he is available, we need to manage him because of the amount of games.”

Maresca also provided an update on the striker situation and the club’s longer-term absences. He put a return estimate of between 10 and 12 weeks on Liam Delap after a hamstring problem that did not require surgery. The manager set out the immediate attacking options: “The only No. 9 is [Marc] Guiu and João [Pedro] can also play there. Against Fulham, we used Tyrique [George] as a No. 9, so we can also think about him.”

Defensive and midfield availability remains mixed. Levi Colwill is still sidelined with a long-term ACL injury. There are concerns over summer signing Dário Essugo, who could miss a large part of the season after undergoing surgery on his own issue. On a more positive note, Benoît Badiashile and Roméo Lavia returned to training in midweek.

The only additional doubts are linked to Chelsea’s South American players. Moisés Caicedo returned late from Ecuador duty and will face a fitness check. Maresca confirmed there are “question marks” about Brazilian trio João Pedro, Andrey Santos and Estêvão after a gruelling defeat to Bolivia in the early hours of Wednesday morning. The manager will assess the squad across the remaining sessions before finalising his selections for Brentford.

Chelsea confirmed that Dário Essugo will be sidelined for an extended period after the 20-year-old required surgery following a thigh injury sustained during the September international break. The club said the midfielder underwent successful surgery in the days after the problem occurred while representing Portugal’s U-21 squad.

Essugo has begun his recovery work at Cobham but faces a lengthy absence. Reports in The Athletic place the layoff at a minimum of 12 weeks, with the wider estimate around three months. The same reporting suggests the summer signing will likely not be available for selection until 2026, a development that leaves Enzo Maresca with another injury issue to manage in the opening months of the 2025–26 season.

Chelsea signed Essugo from Sporting CP in June for £18.5 million ($23.9 million). The midfielder was always intended to add depth to Maresca’s options in central areas and was not expected to displace Moisés Caicedo or Enzo Fernández from the starting XI. Nevertheless, his absence removes a rotational option for the manager at a point when squad resources are valuable.

Following his move to west London, Essugo featured three times in Chelsea’s FIFA Club World Cup campaign, picking up his first trophy in a blue shirt within weeks of his transfer. He then made two preseason appearances, logging a total of 63 minutes. Maresca had not yet given Essugo a Premier League debut, keeping the Portugal international on the bench for Chelsea’s opening three matches of the season.

Given the projected recovery timeline, Essugo will most likely have to wait until next year to make his first appearance in the English top flight. The club will continue to monitor his rehabilitation at Cobham as they prepare for the early months of the 2025–26 campaign.

Chelsea enter the 2025/26 campaign strengthened by a summer that mixed heavy recruitment with continuity. After a turnaround in 2024–25, the squad assembled by Maresca aims to press for honours, and on paper this is the side most likely to start given the club’s transfer business and injury situation.

GK: Robert Sánchez
Goalkeeper was largely untouched during the window. Chelsea explored a deal for AC Milan’s Mike Maignan but ultimately kept Robert Sánchez as the starter. Sánchez remains prone to the occasional mistake but has shown improvement, notably at the Club World Cup. Mike Penders, on loan at sister club Strasbourg, is viewed as a possible long-term option.

RB: Reece James
Now largely free of the injury problems that disrupted two seasons, Reece James has been managed carefully by Maresca and is expected to be a major factor when fit. Chelsea’s captain offers physical defence, technique and wide passing range, and will be preserved for key moments while contributing across the season.

CB: Trevoh Chalobah
After his loan at Crystal Palace was ended in January, Trevoh Chalobah has established himself back at Cobham and into Maresca’s plans. With Levi Colwill sidelined long-term with an ACL injury and Wesley Fofana still struggling for fitness, Chalobah’s role in the back line has grown in importance.

CB: Tosin Adarabioyo
Signed from Fulham for depth, Tosin has become a regular given the defensive injury list. A strong aerial presence, he has been embraced by the dressing room and nicknamed “Uncle Tosin.” At 27 he is one of the senior leaders in the squad.

LB: Marc Cucurella
Cucurella’s career regained momentum after Euro 2024 and he led Chelsea in appearances in 2024–25. Tenacious defensively, he added attacking output last season with seven goals and four assists. Jorrel Hato arrived as cover but Cucurella looks set to start.

DMs: Moisés Caicedo and Enzo Fernández
Caicedo, signed from Brighton for £115 million, anchors midfield with relentless duels and ball-carrying. Enzo Fernández provides vision, passing range and has evolved into a goal threat, becoming a key creative and attacking presence.

AM: Cole Palmer
Palmer is the focal point of attack, capable of decisive moments from the right or as No. 10 with a special left foot.

RW: Estêvão
The 18-year-old Estêvão Willian has shown glimpses of top potential after signing in 2024, and Maresca appears ready to bring him through carefully.

LW: Pedro Neto
Pacy and effective on either flank, Neto has found form since joining last summer and delivers dangerous crosses from the left.

ST: João Pedro
João Pedro, the only summer 2025 arrival to start, hit the ground running with five goals and two assists in his first six matches and helped secure the 2025 Club World Cup. With Liam Delap injured and Nicolas Jackson now at Bayern Munich, Pedro is the primary striker option with Marc Guiu as cover.