Xabi Alonso confirms major early Chelsea injury blow ahead of Sunderland clash next weekend
Sunderland welcome Chelsea to the Stadium of Light in their final fixture before the international break next weekend
Chelsea have been dealt an early blow ahead of their trip to the Stadium of Light next weekend with Joao Pedro likely to be absent with a thigh injury.
Pedro was missing as Xabi Alonso's side fell to a 2-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday evening, and Alonso confirmed ahead of Wednesday night's Carabao Cup tie against Liverpool that he was set for a 'few weeks' on the sidelines.
That would appear to rule him out until after the November international break and the clash with Sunderland on November 8th as a result.
Alonso said: "He has an injury in his thigh and he’s going to be out for a few weeks. Let’s see how many; we don’t want to predict that. But he will not be ready for the next games.
"He is a key player and we will miss him, but we have to be ready to deal with the injury, be competitive and try to win games with the players we have available, starting tomorrow against Liverpool, a cup game.
'This is the situation and we are ready to fight for it and prove we can show a good level."
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One positive for Chelsea is that summer signing Emmanuel Emegha is ready to join the squad following his summer move from Strasbourg.
Reece James will be another key absentee at the Stadium of Light next weekend as he recovers from knee surgery, while goalkeeper Emi Martinez remains an early doubt at this stage following surgery on his jaw.
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