Chelsea and Tottenham are preparing for a crucial Premier League London derby at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, with several players facing a race against time to be fit.
Chelsea head into the encounter after a 2-0 victory over Everton, with João Pedro scoring both goals. Tottenham also gained confidence from their 3-1 win against Coventry City, securing their first victory of the campaign.
However, both teams have injury concerns ahead of the showdown, and fresh training absences have raised questions about Chelsea’s team selection.
🔵 Chelsea injury update
Chelsea goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez is set to miss the match after undergoing surgery for a fractured jaw sustained in a collision against Everton. He hopes to return within a few weeks.
Captain Reece James is also unavailable following knee surgery, with his recovery expected to take around three months. Jamie Gittens remains a doubt as he continues recovering from an ankle injury.
Pep Chavarría and Malo Gusto are additional concerns after missing the Everton match, with neither spotted in training ahead of Saturday’s clash.
Summer signing Emmanuel Emegha is another uncertainty after suffering a setback during his return to training. He has yet to make his competitive debut for Chelsea.
⚪ Tottenham injury update
Tottenham are expected to be without Mykhailo Mudryk, Lucas Bergvall and Savio because of injuries.
Long-term absentees Xavi Simons and Wilson Odobert remain sidelined while recovering from ACL injuries. Rodrigo Bentancur will also miss the match through suspension following his red card against Manchester United.
There is better news for Spurs, however, as Pedro Porro is expected to return after missing the previous two league matches with a hamstring problem. Destiny Udogie is also tipped to be available after sitting out the Coventry victory as a precaution.
James Maddison recently made his first start in more than 500 days, while Dejan Kulusevski returned to action as a substitute after a complicated knee injury.
With several players still being assessed, both managers could face important selection decisions ahead of Saturday’s London derby.
