Chelsea Injury Update: Joao Pedro and Maxence Lacroix Still Out for Sunderland Trip
Chelsea go to Sunderland on Sunday with the same basic problem they had last weekend, key players remain unavailable and Xabi Alonso has little interest in dressing it up.
Joao Pedro and Maxence Lacroix both missed the 2-0 win over 10-man Manchester United, and both are out again for the trip to the Stadium of Light. That means Chelsea head into their final Premier League match before the international break without two players who would plainly improve the squad.
Alonso was direct when asked for an update. “No, not really updates,” he said. “For sure, we are not expecting them for [Sunday].” He added, “Let’s see after the international break the recovery that they [have] made. Ahead of the Leeds game, I will have more [news] but not today.”
Joao Pedro and Lacroix Recovery Latest
That is the situation. No dramatic breakthrough, no vague optimism. Chelsea will reassess both players during the break and expect a clearer picture before the home game against Leeds on November 21.
Lacroix’s issue looks particularly awkward. He went off late in the first half of the Carabao Cup penalty shoot-out defeat to Liverpool with what was feared to be a hamstring injury, and those rarely clear up quickly. Chelsea are being careful, which usually tells you enough.
Chelsea Injury Update Before Sunderland
There is at least some uncertainty in the better sense around Emiliano Martínez and Moisés Caicedo. Martínez is recovering from jaw surgery, while Caicedo felt discomfort after the win over Manchester United. Both are in contention, with Saturday’s training session set to decide it.
Jorrel Hato, however, is nowhere close. Alonso shut that down immediately: “No, no, no, he is not fit. It will take him some more weeks to be fit.”
Sunderland Match Comes at Right Time
Sunderland are bottom of the table, and Chelsea should still have enough. But injuries reduce margin for error, and Alonso knows it. For now, Chelsea are waiting, managing bodies, and hoping the international break repairs what the schedule has broken.
