Chelsea manager Liam Rosenior will make a late decision on the fitness of striker Joao Pedro ahead of Tuesday’s pivotal Premier League clash at Brighton, with the forward’s participation hanging in the balance after a thigh injury.
The Brazilian, a surprise absentee from the squad for Saturday’s 1-0 defeat to Manchester United, sustained the issue on the eve of that match. Rosenior confirmed the 24-year-old trained on Monday, stating, “Joao will be a late call. He was out on the pitch today. We’ll make a final decision on him tomorrow morning.” The manager has previously indicated the problem is not serious, offering hope for a quick return against Pedro’s former club.
Estevao’s Season in Jeopardy After Hamstring Agony
While Pedro faces a fitness test, teenage winger Estevao has been definitively ruled out of the trip to the Amex Stadium after suffering a distressing hamstring injury against United. The 18-year-old pulled up sharply after just 15 minutes while running through on goal and was in tears in the dressing room at half-time, with Rosenior describing the situation as “really devastating for him.”
The club is awaiting further investigation into the severity, but there are fears this setback could end his season. It marks a bitterly frustrating period for the Brazilian, who has already missed 10 games this season due to injury and illness, including six across February and March with a previous hamstring problem. With only six league games remaining, this latest blow threatens to curtail a campaign marred by fitness issues and compassionate leave taken for personal reasons in January.
Enzo Fernandez and Levi Colwill Updates
In more positive news, midfielder Enzo Fernandez is expected to be available despite being substituted late on against United with a calf issue. Rosenior initially expressed hope it was merely cramp after the Argentine “ran himself into the ground,” and has since confirmed, “Enzo is absolutely fine. No other news to report.” This comes as a relief given Fernandez’s recent return from a two-game suspension and a history of knee problems, including a bone edema aggravated by a heavy schedule.
Meanwhile, defender Levi Colwill is not yet in contention for a first-team return but took a significant step towards one by completing 60 minutes in a behind-closed-doors friendly for the Under-21s on Friday. The centre-back, who has missed the entire campaign with an ACL injury sustained before the season started, is set to feature for the U21s again this weekend as he builds fitness. “Very hopefully, yes, we can see him before the end of the season,” Rosenior said, while stressing his reintegration would be managed carefully.
Chelsea’s lengthy injury list also includes Reece James, who remains sidelined with a hamstring issue and is likely to miss the remainder of April, and Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, facing several more weeks out with a serious hamstring injury suffered in early April. Trevoh Chalobah returned to the squad last weekend after an ankle problem, though his availability for Brighton is unclear.
The Blues, on a run of four consecutive league defeats without scoring, face a Brighton side in good form and unbeaten in four. The hosts have their own fitness concerns, with Kaoru Mitoma a serious doubt due to a knock and Diego Gomez likely to miss out with an apparent knee injury.
