Chelsea’s injury woes continue as defender Wesley Fofana has been forced to withdraw from the French national team ahead of the upcoming international break. Fofana, who was recently called up after an 18-month absence, will remain at Cobham to follow a treatment protocol aimed at managing the injuries that kept him out for most of last season. The 23-year-old played the full 90 minutes against Crystal Palace and has shown promising form under Chelsea’s new manager, Enzo Maresca, forming a solid partnership with Levi Colwill in defense.
Despite this progress, Fofana’s absence from Didier Deschamps’ squad has sparked concern among Chelsea supporters, who are well aware of his history of injuries. However, his withdrawal is not believed to be due to any current fitness issues, offering some reassurance that his condition is being managed carefully.
Omari Kellyman Faces Lengthy Recovery
In a more concerning development, Chelsea’s young signing, Omari Kellyman, is expected to be out for at least two months due to a hamstring injury. The teenager, who joined from Aston Villa for £19 million, has had a challenging start to life at Stamford Bridge. Initially arriving with a knock that excluded him from pre-season training with the first team, Kellyman has been training with the Under-21s and made his debut for the academy in a Premier League 2 match against Tottenham.
Kellyman’s situation took a turn for the worse when he suffered a new injury, forcing him out of action until November. The young forward expressed his frustration on social media, writing, “Gutted to have suffered another long hamstring injury. Part of the game, but I’ll be back stronger.”
Further Injury Concerns for Chelsea
Chelsea’s injury list doesn’t stop with Fofana and Kellyman. The club is also keeping a close watch on Malo Gusto and Enzo Fernandez, both of whom suffered knocks during the recent match against Crystal Palace. Gusto was substituted in the second half after feeling discomfort in his hamstring and was later seen with an ice pack, raising concerns about his availability in the coming weeks.
Meanwhile, Fernandez appeared to be in pain after a late collision, clutching his jaw as the match ended. Although Chelsea is optimistic about Fernandez’s condition, Gusto’s situation seems more troubling. Manager Enzo Maresca addressed these concerns after the game, saying, “With Malo, we will see now what happens. It looks like a muscle problem, so we will see.”
Looking Ahead: Managing the Squad’s Fitness
As Chelsea navigates the early challenges of the season, managing the fitness of key players like Fofana, Kellyman, Gusto, and Fernandez will be crucial. The club’s medical team will be working hard to ensure these players can return to action as soon as possible, but the road ahead will require careful management to avoid further setbacks.
With the international break providing a brief respite, Chelsea will hope to regroup and recover as they prepare for the upcoming fixtures. The focus will be on maintaining the squad’s health and building on the promising signs shown in recent matches.
