Latest Chelsea injury news for Nottingham Forest clash as Enzo Maresca faces anxious wait

Enzo Maresca could welcome some big names back to the Chelsea squad this weekend. The Blues will be determined to pick up from where they left off when they lock horns with Nottingham Forest at the City Ground on Saturday afternoon.

Chelsea enjoyed a dramatic 2-1 victory against Liverpool before the international break, with Estevao Willian netting a stoppage-time winner. Meanwhile, Ange Postecoglou will be keen to pick up his first win.

The former Tottenham Hotspur boss has failed to win any of his first seven games in the Forest dugout, losing five and drawing the other two. Unfortunately for Evangelos Marinakis, Postecoglou doesn't have a particularly good record against the west Londoners.

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The 60-year-old has lost each of his four meetings with Chelsea, scoring just four and conceding 11. So, with that being said, football.london has rounded up all the latest injury news and return dates at Stamford Bridge.

Enzo Fernandez

Fernandez withdrew from the Argentina squad at the end of last week due to inflammation in his right knee. The 24-year-old midfielder returned to Cobham shortly after playing 78 minutes in a 1-0 friendly defeat of Venezuela.

Expected return date: Nottingham Forest (A) – Premier League – Saturday, October 18.

Reece James

James was forced to withdraw from the England squad due to injury, missing clashes against Wales and Latvia. It's thought that the decision was precautionary and that it's not a serious one.

Expected return date: Nottingham Forest (A) – Premier League – Saturday, October 18.

Moises Caicedo

Caicedo missed Ecuador's friendlies against the United States and Mexico this month. The 23-year-old midfielder has been nursing a knock, so his national team head coach, Sebastian Beccacece, let him put his feet up over the international break.

What has Beccacece said: "About Moises, his coach [Maresca] said he’s injured. He’s not well."

Expected return date: Nottingham Forest (A) – Premier League – Saturday, October 18.

Benoit Badiashile

Badiashile was forced to come off during Chelsea's win over Liverpool before the international break. Willy Caballero provided an update on the 24-year-old defender after the game, claiming his withdrawal was simply a precaution.

What has Caballero said: "It was just prevention. We spoke with them (Badiashile and Josh Acheampong) already, and they said that they are okay, so [it is] good for us."

Expected return date: Nottingham Forest (A) – Premier League – Saturday, October 18.

Josh Acheampong

Acheampong also limped off during Chelsea's win over Liverpool, but he managed to get some minutes in the tank over the international break. The 19-year-old defender played 78 minutes at left-back in the England Under-21s' 4-0 win over Moldova.

Expected return date: Nottingham Forest (A) – Premier League – Saturday, October 18.

Joao Pedro

Pedro was nursing a knock in the weeks leading up to the October international break, so he was given a break by Carlo Ancelotti. The 24-year-old forward wasn't called up to the Brazil squad for their tour of Asia, giving him a fortnight of rest in west London.

Expected return date: Nottingham Forest (A) – Premier League – Saturday, October 18.

Andrey Santos

Santos was also left out of the Brazil squad this month, having been nursing a minor thigh problem. The 21-year-old midfielder was also given the chance to recharge his batteries.

What has Maresca said: "We lost Andrey Santos, who will be out until after the international break. We have seven or eight players out. It is difficult to pick the same XI, but it is what it is. We need to adapt."

Expected return date: Late October.

Tosin Adarabioyo

Tosin suffered a minor calf injury ahead of Chelsea's win over Liverpool. Speaking to reporters, Maresca confirmed that the 28-year-old defender will be out until the October international break.

What has Maresca said: "He will probably be out until the international break. He has a small injury in his calf."

Expected return date: Nottingham Forest (A) – Premier League – Saturday, October 18.

Cole Palmer

Last month, Palmer was forced to come off during the first half of Chelsea's clash against Manchester United due to a groin injury. The 23-year-old midfielder has missed each of the Blues' last four games across all competitions.

He was subsequently ruled out of England's recent matches against Wales and Latvia. Thomas Tuchel warned Palmer that his injury could become 'chronic' if not properly treated.

What Maresca has said: "Yeah, we decided to protect a little bit, Cole, in terms of him not getting a worse injuries. So we decided to rest him for the next two, three weeks, probably until international break, just to see if with that rest he can be able to recover 100 per cent and to be completely fit after the international break.

"No, I don't think he needs surgery. It's just a matter of managing his pain and his groin. The amount of games is something that can happen. So this is the reason why we try to be conservative with him to give him rest, and hopefully he can be 100 per cent fit after the international break."

Expected return date: November.

Liam Delap

Delap suffered a hamstring injury during Chelsea's 2-0 win over Fulham just before the last international break. Fortunately, the 22-year-old striker, whom the Blues signed from Ipswich Town for £30m in the summer, did not require surgery on the issue.

What Maresca has said: "It's around 10 to 12 weeks."

Expected return date: November.

Dario Essugo

Essugo suffered a thigh injury during the September international break. The club confirmed that the Portugal Under-21 midfielder, who Chelsea signed from Sporting CP this summer, underwent surgery and has been enrolled in a rehabilitation programme at Cobham training ground.

Expected return date: Early 2026.

Levi Colwill

Colwill suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury at the start of pre-season. Maresca will desperately miss the 22-year-old defender, but the Chelsea boss won't want to rush him back and risk aggravating the issue.

What has Maresca said: "Levi's injury is ACL injury, so it is not one month or two months, it is six, seven or eight months. For sure, he will be back, but it is not something we are worried about."

Expected return date: April.