Chelsea's stars who are not at the World Cup are expected back to first team training on Tuesday, as preparations get underway in earnest for the return of the Premier League. It is still more than three weeks until domestic football returns but Graham Potter will get a first look at the parts he has to work with ahead of some warm weather training.
The Blues head to Abu Dhabi on Sunday and will face Aston Villa in a friendly on December 11th, though with 15 players at the World Cup and most competing for a place in the tournament's last-16, his resources may be stretched. It will be a first opportunity for Potter to lift some silverware - albeit a minor one - as Chelsea compete for the CBF | Al Wahda Challenge Cup.
Who Potter will choose to utilise in the United Arab Emirates remains to be seen, with his World Cup players perhaps likely to be unavailable with sufficient time and rest unless they make their exit within the group stages. Much will rest on which of Chelsea's injured stars can return from injury with Potter having as many as eight players in doubt for Chelsea's Premier League's return against Bournemouth.
