Chelsea XI vs Fulham: Predicted lineup, confirmed team news, injury latest for Premier League today | OneFootball

Blues kick off Xabi Alonso era with west London derby at Craven Cottage

Danny Welbeck should be fit for Chelsea’s Premier League opener at Fulham tonight, while Enzo Fernandez is expected to start.

Welbeck had been spotted training individually at Cobham on Friday morning, raising concerns that he may be an injury doubt for Xabi Alonso’s first competitive game in charge.

The veteran forward, a summer signing from Brighton, has been managing a small unspecified issue, but Alonso has confirmed that he will be available for selection at Craven Cottage.

"He can be involved,” Alonso said in his pre-match press conference on Thursday. “He needs a couple of days not training too much because of a little thing. We expect him to be back on Saturday.”

Alonso also confirmed that those who had returned late following the World Cup would be available for selection despite a limited pre-season.

That includes wantaway midfielder Fernandez, who remains heavily linked to Manchester City despite Chelsea’s self-imposed deadline for clubs to meet their £120million valuation passing without any bids.

On Fernandez, Alonso refused to say whether the 25-year-old had personally told him that he wanted to stay at the club.

Centre of attention: Enzo Fernandez will start for Chelsea against Fulham

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However, he did go on to praise the Argentine’s attitude since returning to training 10 days ago and said he would be ready to play against Fulham.

“Enzo is a Chelsea player. He is a top, top player. He's training really well since he started 10 days ago with the team, very integrated, and we are happy with him, and he's getting ready for Monday,” Alonso continued.

Elsewhere, Emmanuel Emegha returned to training last week, having missed the majority of pre-season with a hamstring injury.

The summer arrival from Strasbourg was not, however, involved in Chelsea’s final pre-season friendly last weekend as they beat Real Sociedad 3-1 at Stamford Bridge.

Jordan Henderson also missed out against Sociedad despite being pictured in training last week. The former Liverpool captain has been recovering from a wrist injury sustained in the aftermath of England’s last-16 victory over Mexico in July.

Young centre-back Aaron Anselmino is still struggling with a hamstring injury picked up in the final friendly of Chelsea’s tour of Australia and Asia.

Wesley Fofana, meanwhile, is suspended after he picked up a red card in the final league game of last season away to Sunderland.

It is unclear yet whether Alonso will opt for a three- or four-man defence against Fulham, having switched between both systems during pre-season.

Either way, he is expected to start Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers alongside each other in a competitive game for the first time as Chelsea players.

The pair started against Sociedad, with Rogers scoring his first Chelsea goal after making a club-record £117m transfer from Aston Villa.

Chelsea’s bloated squad means Alonso has opted to train with two separate groups.

The likes of Nicolas Jackson, Liam Delap and Mykhailo Mudryk are part of the second group training away from Alonso’s core squad members, and it remains to be seen whether any of them will be involved on Monday.

Predicted Chelsea XI: Sanchez; James, Lacroix, Colwill, Hato; Fernandez, Caicedo; Neto, Palmer, Rogers; Joao Pedro

Injured: Anselmino

Suspended: Fofana