Chelsea’s stars who are not at the World Cup are expected back to first team training on Tuesday, as preparations get underway in earnest for the return of the Premier League. It is still more than three weeks until domestic football returns but Graham Potter will get a first look at the parts he has to work with ahead of some warm weather training.
The Blues head to Abu Dhabi on Sunday and will face Aston Villa in a friendly on December 11th, though with 15 players at the World Cup and most competing for a place in the tournament’s last-16, his resources may be stretched. It will be a first opportunity for Potter to lift some silverware – albeit a minor one – as Chelsea compete for the CBF | Al Wahda Challenge Cup.
Who Potter will choose to utilise in the United Arab Emirates remains to be seen, with his World Cup players perhaps likely to be unavailable with sufficient time and rest unless they make their exit within the group stages. Much will rest on which of Chelsea’s injured stars can return from injury with Potter having as many as eight players in doubt for Chelsea’s Premier League’s return against Bournemouth.
Marcus Bettinelli could be the figure to start in goal against the Villans, with Edouard Mendy’s time in Qatar lasting until at least Tuesday and possibly beyond, while it is difficult to know how Kepa Arrizabalaga’s injury from a plantar fascia issue is progressing.
Reece James was hoping to make England’s World Cup squad to feature during the tournament, so providing his rehabilitation has continued in the same vein he could be involved, while he was joined by Wesley Fofana training in Dubai before the season paused. The French defender does appear to have been building his fitness and hinted at his return last week. The duo will likely be joined by Trevoh Chalobah and Marc Cucurella in defence, with the latter pair missing out on World Cup selection.
In midfield, Potter will be hoping Ruben Loftus-Cheek is fit enough to return, with Jorginho available for selection after Italy failed to qualify for Qatar 2022. The 47-year-old is likely to be without the likes of Mateo Kovacic, Conor Gallagher and Denis Zakaria. The trio will be hoping their teams can at least make the last-16 of the tournament and that round of games finishes on December 4.
Having missed the end of the opening part of the season, Carney Chukwuemeka will be hoping to be back to full fitness having trained away from the main squad, while Armando Broja will be hoping to impress despite picking up an ankle issue on international duty. The latter will be competing for a place with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang leading the forward line, with the former Gabon international in need of finding his form. Broja could also be an option on the wing, however.
It appears there will be some room in the group travelling to Abu Dhabi for some of Chelsea’s development squad too. Lewis Hall and Omari Hutchinson will be favourites to fly out to the Middle East given their involvement with the first team of late. Hall, could feature either in the wing-back role he impressed in before the break, or his favoured central midfield position depending on whether reports that Potter plans to focus on a 4-3-3 formation are true.
The involvement of many youngsters is difficult to assess with the Blues set to face Cheltenham Town in the week beginning December 12th. The Under-21s side make the trip to Gloucestershire having progressed to the third round of the Papa John’s Trophy.
Predicted XI: Bettinelli; James, Chalobah, Fofana, Cucurella; Hall, Jorginho, Loftus-Cheek, Chukwuemeka, Aubameyang, Hutchinson.
