Enzo Maresca's players returned from international duty with mixed fortunes, but the Blues are hopeful of having a stronger squad available when they restart their Premier League campaign away at Burnley on 22 November.

Palmer races to make Barcelona clash

Chelsea are working around the clock to have Cole Palmer fit for their Champions League meeting with Barcelona at Stamford Bridge on 25 November. Palmer has been managing a recurring groin problem since September, but both the player and the club remain confident he will return in time.

Standard Sport have reported that a short cameo against Burnley has not been completely ruled out. However, all recovery efforts are focused on the Barcelona fixture, with Palmer said to be "hopeful" of featuring in what Maresca views as a key European night.

Neto handed chance to return at Burnley

Pedro Neto withdrew from the Portugal squad after suffering a groin injury in Chelsea's 3-0 win against Wolves. The Portuguese Football Federation confirmed: "Pedro Neto and Pedro Goncalves have been released from the national team, due to physical problems that limit the player."

After discussions between Chelsea's medical staff and the FPF, Neto stayed in London to recover. The winger is expected to be fit in time to face Burnley on 22 November, provided his rest period has resolved the issue.

Gittens brushes off scare

Jamie Gittens gave Chelsea a brief fright when he limped off during England Under-21s' 2-0 win over the Republic of Ireland. The winger slipped in heavy rain at St Andrew's and was substituted just after the hour mark.

Initial fears of a setback have eased significantly. No further problems have been reported, and Gittens is set to travel with England's Under-21s for their crucial qualifier against Slovakia. Chelsea expect him to be available for the Burnley match.

Fernandez playing through knee trouble

Enzo Fernandez ruled himself out of Argentina duty after admitting he had been struggling with a knee issue for four months. "I will not be available with Argentina," he said. "I came with a bone oedema that got worse because we played a lot of games. It is good to make this decision together."

The midfielder missed Argentina's 2-0 win over Angola and will be assessed ahead of the trip to Turf Moor. A clear return date has not been set.

Lavia out until December

Romeo Lavia suffered yet another setback when he lasted only five minutes of Chelsea's 2-2 draw with Qarabag. The midfielder went down clutching his thigh and immediately left the pitch for assessment.

He has been ruled out for at least a month and will miss the Champions League clash with Barcelona as well as the home meeting with Arsenal on 30 November.

Badiashile eyes Burnley return

Benoit Badiashile's stop-start season continued as a muscle injury ruled him out of Chelsea's last seven matches. Maresca confirmed in October: "Benoit will be out until December. A muscle problem. He was doing fantastic, and we're going to wait for him."

However, the French defender has returned to training during the international break and is now ahead of schedule, with a potential return as soon as the Burnley fixture on 22 November.

Essugo working towards January return

Dario Essugo has been sidelined since suffering a thigh injury with Portugal Under-21s in September. The teenager required surgery, and although no official timeframe has been released, reports in Portugal indicate a likely return in January 2026.

Colwill remains a long-term absentee

Levi Colwill remains a long-term casualty after rupturing his ACL in pre-season. He underwent surgery in August and is expected to miss the majority of the campaign, with a return targeted for early 2026, though there is hope he could feature before the season's end if recovery progresses without setbacks.

Chelsea will hope the steady flow of returning players lifts their momentum heading into a demanding winter schedule, with Barcelona and Arsenal looming large in the coming weeks.

Orlando Pirates midfielder Ben Motshwari joins AmaZulu on season-long loan