Joao Pedro has been left out of Chelsea’s squad for their London derby with Tottenham and requires further assessment after feeling a recurrence of a knee injury in training on Friday.
The striker, who has scored five goals and made three assists in the Premier League this season, suffered a knee injury which ruled him out of Chelsea’s match with Brentford ahead of the September international break, and he withdrew from Brazil duty.
He returned to the Chelsea team to score twice against Bournemouth and then played 90 minutes against Everton last weekend. But Pedro is not involved for the clash with Spurs due to the issue, which is being assessed by the club.
Manager Xabi Alonso told Sky Sports: “Yesterday in training he felt something, and at the moment he has some liquid, so we have to do some tests to know how big the injury is. It's disappointing, but we need to carry on.”
Danny Welbeck may have expected to start in Joao Pedro’s place, but instead right winger Geovany Quenda comes into the Chelsea line-up, with either Cole Palmer or Morgan Rogers likely to lead the line through the centre.
Alonso made no mention of Pedro’s fitness during his pre-match press conference, but did confirm that Argentinian goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez will be out for several weeks after surgery on a fractured jaw, which brings Mike Penders into the side.
Martinez was taken to hospital following a collision with defender Jarrad Branthwaite during last weekend’s 2-0 win over Everton.
“He’s been better; he had the surgery. We still need to wait. (He will be out for] a few weeks. Hopefully less than more,” Alonso told a press conference on Friday.
Line-ups
Chelsea XI: Penders, Acheampong, Lacroix, Colwill, Neto, Caicedo, Henderson, Hato, Rogers, Palmer, Quenda.
Subs: Sharman-Lowe, Fofana, Gusto, Palestra, Barco, Lavia, Nicoll-Jazuli, Estevao, Welbeck.
Tottenham XI: Kinsky, Gray, Van Hecke, Van de Ven, Roberton, Tonali, Fernandes, Kudus, Maddison, Marmoush, Tel.
Subs: Dubravka, Senesi, Gallagher, Solanke, Kulusevski, Porro, Davies, William Olusesi, Williams-Barnet.