Chelsea head coach Liam Rosenior confirmed Joao Pedro will be a late call for Tuesday’s Premier League trip to Brighton, with the striker having trained today after missing Saturday’s loss to Manchester United due to a minor thigh issue.
The decision on Pedro’s availability will be made tomorrow morning, offering a potential boost for a Chelsea side already missing Estevao Willian, who is ruled out with a hamstring injury sustained against United. Enzo Fernandez, who withdrew with a calf problem at the weekend, has been declared fit to feature.
Rosenior emphasized the positive sign of Pedro returning to training, stating the striker’s early return would be beneficial given the quick turnaround from Saturday’s game. No other new injury concerns were reported from the weekend’s defeat.
On the recovery front, Rosenior provided an update on Levi Colwill, who has resumed team training following a serious knee injury and recently played 60 minutes for the Under-21s. The defender’s rehab is progressing well, and Rosenior expressed hope of seeing him back with the first team before the season’s end.
Colwill’s involvement in the upcoming Under-21 fixture on Saturday is part of a structured build-up to restore match fitness, with Rosenior noting the defender has made a strong impression during training sessions.
Brighton, meanwhile, confirmed Kaoru Mitoma will be available despite cramp concerns from his substitute appearance against Tottenham, whereas Diego Gomez remains out with a knee issue deemed less serious than initially feared.
Is Joao Pedro likely to start against Brighton?
Rosenior said a decision will be made tomorrow morning after assessing Pedro’s training today, with no guarantee he will start despite being available.
When could Levi Colwill return to the Chelsea first team?
Rosenior stated he is “highly hopeful” Colwill will feature before the end of the season, though no exact timeline was given beyond continued involvement with the Under-21s to build fitness.