Chelsea winger Geovany Quenda faces a race against time to be fit for Sunday's trip to Sunderland after missing two days of training with a minor muscle issue, in a fresh injury worry for Xabi Alonso.
According to football.london, the 19-year-old sat out Wednesday's session at Cobham and will also miss Thursday's preparations. Sources close to Quenda say he is expected to return to training on Friday afternoon, when a decision will be made on whether he travels to the Stadium of Light.
BBC Sport reporter Nizaar Kinsella reported the same picture: Quenda missed training on Wednesday and Thursday with a minor muscle issue but is still working towards a return for Sunderland on Sunday, with more expected to be learned at Alonso's Friday press conference.
Quenda has made five Premier League appearances since signing from Sporting CP in the summer, and only one of them has been a start - a surprise inclusion in Alonso's side for the 2-0 defeat to Tottenham less than a fortnight ago, when he was picked ahead of more established wide options. The teenager is still settling in London, but any absence now interrupts the run of involvement he has been building.
Caicedo absence adds to the worry
Quenda was not the only concern from Wednesday's open training session, the first 15 minutes of which were streamed live. Moises Caicedo was not involved in the opening part of the session, leaving supporters worried about the Ecuador midfielder. Club insiders noted that players work to different schedules early in the week but could not confirm whether that explained Caicedo's absence, and it remains unclear whether he is injured or simply having his minutes managed after his lengthy calf problem.
Jorrel Hato, with a back issue, and Jamie Gittens, with an ankle problem, were also missing from Wednesday's session. There was better news elsewhere: goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez trained wearing a protective mask after the fractured jaw he suffered in last month's 2-0 win at Everton and the surgery that followed, while Jordan Henderson was back with the group after the illness that kept him out of Saturday's 2-0 win over Manchester United, and defender Aaron Anselmino also returned after injury.
The longer-term absentees remain out. Joao Pedro is recovering from a thigh injury, Maxence Lacroix from the hamstring injury he picked up at Anfield, and captain Reece James from a knee problem.
So what does this mean for Sunday?
Sunderland away is exactly the kind of fixture where Alonso needs his full squad: a loud Stadium of Light, a side that will press Chelsea high, and no room for a patched-up team to ease into the game. If Quenda misses out and Gittens is still not ready, Chelsea's wide rotation shrinks again just as the schedule tightens, and more of the creative burden falls on the same few names.
The bigger question is Caicedo. If his absence was only load management, Friday should settle it quickly. If he is carrying a problem, Alonso loses the midfielder who sets Chelsea's tempo and protects a defence already missing Lacroix and James. Friday's training pictures and press conference will tell Chelsea fans which version of this story they are dealing with.
Beyond the Final Whistle: Quenda's setback is, on its own, a small story - a teenager with a minor muscle issue who may still make Sunday. But it lands on top of a treatment room that never empties, and that is the real story at Chelsea: Alonso is trying to build rhythm with a squad that changes every week for medical reasons. Until that changes, judging this team game to game is almost unfair - and Sunderland will happily take advantage if it does not change by Sunday.
Should Alonso risk Quenda at Sunderland, or protect him until after the international break? Let us know what you think in the comment section.
