Chelsea Injury List Rises to Eight as Jamie Gittens Returns From England Under-21 Duty

Gittens forced off at Molineux

Chelsea have been dealt another blow in a bruising international window. Jamie Gittens was substituted six minutes before half-time of England Under-21s' dramatic 4-2 win over Kazakhstan at Molineux, replaced by Tyrique George after taking a kick on the ankle.

Under-21s head coach Lee Carsley confirmed the winger is heading straight back to Stamford Bridge. "Jamie got a kick on his ankle. We never take any risks. With the age of these players we don't ever keep them in camp to see how they are. He will go back," Carsley said.

A list that keeps growing

Gittens' return takes the number of Chelsea players currently unavailable to eight. Goalkeeper Mike Penders had already been sidelined with a thigh problem while away with Belgium, while Cole Palmer withdrew from the senior England squad to follow an injury-specific training plan after reporting discomfort.

England boss Thomas Tuchel did not hide his frustration about the Palmer situation. "My understanding is that he is playing with discomfort and pain, and he cannot compete at the highest level with discomfort and pain," Tuchel said. "He misses way too many camps with injuries, and I only want to rely on what I witness and see within my team."

Alonso's selection headache

Back in London, Xabi Alonso is already working without Joao Pedro, Reece James, Moises Caicedo, Marco Palestra and Emmanuel Emegha. Injuries have severely disrupted Gittens' start to life at Chelsea following his £51.5 million move from Borussia Dortmund, with the 22-year-old handed just one start under Alonso so far this season.

What comes next

Chelsea now anxiously await the results of Gittens' medical scans. The fixtures come thick and fast once club football resumes: Bournemouth visit on October 10, followed by Everton on October 17, Tottenham on October 24, an EFL Cup clash with Liverpool on October 28 and a daunting trip to Manchester United on October 31.

For a squad built on depth, eight names in the treatment room is already a test of it — and the restart is still ten days away.