Chelsea have endured a quiet start to October, with little happening at Stamford Bridge, but that could soon change as the Blues prepare to return to action this week.
It has been a strange start to the month, with the defeat to Brentford and the disappointing performance still fresh in the memory. The international break has given fans plenty of time to reflect on what went wrong, while Xabi Alonso will be keen to put things right when the Premier League returns.
So, what could happen this week that might change the mood around Stamford Bridge and give Chelsea fans something to get excited about?
Premier League return
Chelsea return to action on October 10 when they welcome Bournemouth to Stamford Bridge for what promises to be a tricky test for the team and possible debutants. The Premier League clash marks the start of a demanding run of fixtures that could put Xabi Alonso under increasing pressure if results fail to improve.
Kick-off is at 3pm on Saturday, with plenty of attention on how Chelsea respond after the international break. Fans will also be keeping a close eye on Bournemouth’s Alex Scott, who has previously been linked with a move to Stamford Bridge.
Fitness news
The fitness of several key players should become clearer over the next few days. Will João Pedro and Cole Palmer be back in training, and could we finally see Moisés Caicedo return in a Chelsea shirt and make an impact?
The return of Marco Palestra and Emmanuel Emegha will also be worth watching this month, with both players now back in training and pushing for their first involvement since returning from injury.
International break comes to an end
The international break is coming to an end, and it has been a worthwhile period for several Chelsea stars. Pedro Neto and Estêvão have picked up valuable minutes, Morgan Rogers found the net, while others have benefited from getting more game time under their belts.
Now, the hope is that the final round of fixtures passes without any injuries, allowing Chelsea to welcome their players back with a clean bill of health ahead of Saturday’s return to Premier League action.
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