Why Xabi Alonso Will Make Late Chelsea Selection Calls For Fulham Opener | OneFootball

Previewing Chelsea's Premier League opener against Fulham. Video Credit: Absolute Chelsea

Xabi Alonso may have to make late decisions on whether the pre-season arrivals will be ready to play against Fulham on Monday night.

Seven Chelsea players joined the team’s pre-season later than most of their teammates after representing their countries at the 2026 World Cup.

Reece James, Malo Gusto, Enzo Fernandez, and summer signings Morgan Rogers, Jordan Henderson, Maxence Lacroix, and Valentin Barco took part in their first pre-season training on August 11.

Additionally, Pep Chavarria joined late after signing from Rayo Vallecano, while Emmanuel Emegha returned around the same time after missing out on the pre-season tour of Australia and Asia due to a hamstring injury.

Some of these players were involved in Chelsea’s 3-1 final pre-season win over Spanish side Real Sociedad at Stamford Bridge last weekend.

James, Rogers, and Lacroix all made the starting 11, and each featured for around an hour. Gusto, Fernandez, and Chavarria came on in the second half, while Barco was left unused on the bench. Henderson and Emegha did not even make the squad.

However, unlike in a pre-season game, where Alonso could make as many substitutions as he liked, the manager will only have to be mindful of his team selection with just five substitutions per game.

Alonso insisted that, while they need time, these players remain available for the season-opening game against Fulham at Craven Cottage on Monday, August 24.

“Let's see. We will check; we will assess,” Alonso said in his press conference on Thursday when asked whether the late arrivals would be ready to play.

“Because of the World Cup, they came a little bit later, and they would need maybe a little bit more time.

“But they are for sure selectable for the line-up.”

Doubts over injury returnees

The biggest question mark is over Henderson and Emegha, who were absent against Sociedad - both have recently nursed injuries, a forearm fracture and a hamstring issue, respectively.

Emegha’s absence could prove the bigger problem, since unlike in midfield, Alonso may no longer be spoilt for choice in the striker position.

Joao Pedro is set to start up front, but it remains unclear whether Danny Welbeck will be back in time for the Fulham trip amid a minor problem. Welbeck is expected to return to training on Saturday.

Both Liam Delap and Nicolas Jackson remain on Chelsea’s books, but the two strikers have been made available for sale and linked to several clubs. Their inclusions are therefore unlikely.

Chelsea’s midfield, on the other hand, could easily cope with Henderson’s potential absence. Fernandez, Barco, Moises Caicedo, Romeo Lavia, Dario Essugo, and even Reece James can all play in central midfield roles.

Meanwhile, Essugo has been linked with a potential loan exit this summer, so depending on the situation, he may also be left out.