Chelsea are without four stars when they take on Hull in the Premier League this afternoon.
The biggest miss is Moises Caicedo, who remains sidelined with a calf problem that has blinkered his start to the season, though next week’s London derby away at Brentford has been earmarked as a potential benchmark for his return.
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The other three absentees are all summer signings. Marco Palestra’s wait for a competitive debut continues from his knock that he took in training before the start of the season.
Jordan Henderson has not featured at all for his new club since his free transfer from Brentford, having broken his wrist in the celebrations following England’s win over Mexico in the World Cup at the Azteca Stadium.
Emmanuel Emegha, the summer arrival from sister club Strasbourg, is out with a hamstring problem that he suffered against Bromley in a behind-closed-doors friendly in pre-season.
As such, and after Xabi Alonso’s shuffling of his pack against Leeds in midweek, he has reverted back to a more familiar lineup.
Pedro Neto was a half-time sub against Leeds, and he completed the turnaround with a well-taken goal to make it 3-2. He will celebrate his new contract with a start at left wing-back, while Malo Gusto lines up on the opposite flank.
Reece James will start in the engine room once again and Romeo Lavia is reinstalled in Caicedo’s absence, after the failed experiment of a midfield trio that saw Reggie Watson handed a debut as a sole pivot against Leeds.
The front three picks itself, with Premier League Player of the Month Joao Pedro flanked by Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers, who starred off the bench against Leeds.
Confirmed team news
Chelsea XI: Martinez, Fofana, Colwill, Hato, Gusto, James, Lavia, Neto, Palmer, Rogers, Joao Pedro
Substitutes: Penders, Acheampong, Lacroix, Chavarria, Barco, Quenda, Gittens, Estevao, Welbeck
Injured: Emegha, Henderson, Caicedo, Palestra
Date and time: 3pm on Saturday, September 12, 2026
Venue: Stamford Bridge
