Xabi Alonso issues Chelsea injury update as summer signing fit for Fulham | OneFootball

Spaniard expecting a full complement for Premier League kick-off

Xabi Alonso has confirmed Danny Welbeck and those Chelsea players who featured at the World Cup will all be available for selection for the club’s Premier League opener away at Fulham on Monday night.

Welbeck signed from Brighton earlier this summer but trained alone on Thursday, sparking concerns as to his fitness.

Alonso, though, has confirmed he will be fit and available to make his competitive debut at Craven Cottage despite a minor issue.

"He can be involved,” Alonso confirmed. “He needs a couple of days not training too much because of a little thing. We expect him to be back on Saturday.”

A number of Chelsea players were handed extended summer breaks following their involvement at the World Cup, with the likes of Reece James, Enzo Fernandez, Maxence Lacroix, Morgan Rogers, Valentin Barco and Malo Gusto only reporting for pre-season after the club’s tour of southeast Asia.

Alonso has no concerns as to their fitness, though, and confirmed they will be available for Monday’s west London derby: "Let's see, we will check, we will assess. For sure, because of the World Cup they might need a little bit more time. They are selectable for the line-up."

James, Rogers, and Lacroix all started in Chelsea’s final pre-season friendly against Real Sociedad last week, with Gusto and Fernandez coming off the bench.

Alonso also confirmed Levi Colwill is approaching full fitness. The centre-back tore his ACL a year ago this month, and missed the vast majority of the 2025/26 campaign as he recovered from surgery.

Alonso added: “I would say having a proper pre-season has helped (Colwill) in taking the right steps in the right moment. We don't want to rush him too quickly because of what he had last year.

“Now, after pre-season, we are expecting him to play in a good way with the confidence and the fitness to have him at his best level. For me, he is one of the best centre-backs in the world.”