Pedro, Palmer & Estevão: Latest Chelsea injury news and return dates before Bayern Munich match

Chelsea return to Champions League action for the first time in over two years tonight when they travel to Germany to face Bayern Munich – but they will be sweating on the fitness of several crucial players ahead of Wednesday’s match.

While Cole Palmer was fit enough to come off the bench against Brentford and score at the weekend it is unclear whether he will be available to start, and there are further question marks over the fitness of summer signings João Pedro and Estevão Willian – with as many as four more Chelsea players potentially absent through injury.

We’ve got all the latest news on Cheslea’s stricken players below along with their expected return dates when available.

Will Cole Palmer & João Pedro be fit to start against Bayern Munich?

Having missed two Chelsea matches and the international break due to a pre-existing groin injury, Palmer made his return as a second-half substitute against Brentford, scoring just five minutes after his introduction shortly before the hour mark.

It isn’t certain that he’ll be available to start as Bayern Munich, however, with Enzo Maresca telling the media after the game that Palmer “was not fit to play from the start.” The coach has not yet offered a public assessment as to whether he is expected to be in better shape for the game in Bavaria, but it is likely that his minutes will continue to be managed over the coming games.

João Pedro was able to start against Brentford but Maresca later admitted that the Brazilian forward was “not fit 100%” and that Pedro had even requested that he didn’t play prior to the 2-2 draw. In the end, he played for nearly 80 minutes and provided the assist for Palmer’s goal. Maresca further confessed that he hadn’t been thinking ahead to the Bayern game when he made the decision to start Pedro.

Chelsea have not publicly explained what Pedro’s issue was, although he was seen vomiting on the pitch while on national duty following a collision with team-mate Gabriel Martinelli. It remains unclear whether he is fully fit to play in the Champions League, but Saturday’s team selection implies that Pedro will play some part if at all possible.

Estevão among doubts for Champions League encounter

Brazilian wonderkid Estevão was a surprise absentee from the squad over the weekend, with The Evening Standard later reporting that the teenager had been taken ill over the international break. The club have not yet commented on the nature or severity of his illness and there is, as yet, no word on whether Estevão will be able to play against Bayern.

There is also some mystery surrounding the conditions of midfielder Roméo Lavia and defender Benoît Badiashile. Both have been absent since sustaining unspecified injuries during pre-season, and while both were initially earmarked to return shortly after the international break they have not yet been seen in training and there is no clarity on when they might be back in action.

Liam Delap, meanwhile, will be out for around 12 more weeks due to the serious hamstring injury he suffered against Fulham and will most likely return in December. Youngster Dário Essugo is set to be another long-term absentee after he underwent surgery on a thigh injury sustained while training with Portugal’s Under-21s – he is unlikely to play again in 2025 and should return early in the new year.