Chelsea handed huge injury boost before Brentford clash in new double update | OneFootball

Blues’ fitness issues look to be easing before another west London derby showdown

Marco Palestra appeared to take part in Chelsea training ahead of Friday night’s Premier League derby clash with Brentford, along with Jordan Henderson.

Injury has so far prevented both players from making their competitive Blues debuts following respective transfers to Stamford Bridge during the recent summer window.

Versatile Italy wing-back Palestra featured regularly for Chelsea during pre-season following a £47million move from Serie A club Atalanta in July, but has missed their first six matches of the new campaign across all competitions due to a quad issue suffered in training ahead of the Premier League opener against Fulham.

Henderson, meanwhile, joined Chelsea as a free agent on a two-year contract last month in a shock switch after mutually terminating his contract at Brentford a year early.

However, he too has yet to feature at all this term as the result of a freak injury sustained during England’s World Cup campaign in North America earlier this summer.

The veteran midfielder, 36, broke his arm while jumping back over the advertising hoardings after celebrating the 3-2 win over Mexico in a memorable last-16 showdown with his team-mates and fans at the Estadio Azteca.

Henderson was taken to hospital and later underwent surgery. He has been back training for a while now and looks to be closing in on his Chelsea debut, which could come against his former club in a Friday night west London derby at the Gtech Community Stadium.

New signing: Marco Palestra played regularly for Chelsea during pre-season

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However, fellow midfielder Moises Caicedo could remain absent against Brentford, having not been spotted training yet following a calf problem that has blighted his season so far.

The Ecuador international missed Chelsea’s first two games of the season against Fulham and Luton, returning as a second-half substitute in the eventful 4-3 home win over former club Brighton before being forced off just 14 minutes later.

Striker Emmanuel Emegha - another summer recruit - is hoping to prove his fitness in time to have some involvement against Brentford, while captain Reece James and key forward Joao Pedro are both expected to be fit, despite not being involved in the first part of a training session at Cobham on Tuesday that was open to Sky Sports.