Several key Chelsea players are missing international duty over the next few weeks due to injuries.

The timing of the extended international break is somewhat of a blessing for Chelsea, who are dealing with several injuries.

While from a footballing perspective, it will be a long three weeks after a devastating 3-0 loss to Brentford last Friday, it also means fewer games without key players due to injuries.

As it stands, at least six players are on Chelsea’s injury list. These are Moises Caicedo, Marco Palestra, Reece James, Joao Pedro, Emmanuel Emegha, and recent addition Cole Palmer.

Moises Caicedo

The Ecuador international has only featured for a total of 14 minutes for Chelsea this season. 

Having missed the first two games of the season, Caicedo came on as a substitute in the 4-3 win over his former club Brighton & Hove Albion in late August, before being forced off due to an injury not long after.

Xabi Alonso confirmed that the midfielder, who has yet to return since the win, is struggling with a calf problem.

However, he is expected to be back after the international break when Chelsea host Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge on October 10.

Marco Palestra

Chelsea signed Palestra from Atalanta on a deal worth £43m this summer. The right-back became one of Alonso’s most used players in pre-season right away, so there were a lot of expectations on him.

Unfortunately, he sustained a quad injury just before the season started, preventing him from making his official debut for Chelsea.

However, he has returned to training in the last couple of weeks, so he should be ready to make his debut in the Bournemouth game.

Reece James

Alonso said James, who is understood to have sustained a hamstring injury, was close to making the squad for the Brentford defeat.

While the Chelsea captain has been left out of Thomas Tuchel’s latest England squad due to the injury, he should still be available for Bournemouth’s visit.

Joao Pedro

The Chelsea striker was initially called up to Carlo Ancelotti’s Brazil squad for this international break. However, he withdrew from the national team last week and later was left out of Chelsea’s squad against Brentford.

Reports in Brazil claimed Joao Pedro had knee swelling and was advised to rest for three and a half weeks. 

It remains unclear whether he would recover in time for Bournemouth, but even if he does not, he would have another week before Chelsea's trip to Everton on October 17.

Emmanuel Emegha

The Netherlands international joined Chelsea in a pre-agreed deal from RC Strasbourg this summer.

He suffered a hamstring injury that forced him to miss Chelsea’s pre-season tour in Australia and Asia, but returned to training just before the season started.

He made the bench in Chelsea’s Carabao Cup second-round win over Luton Town in late August but has not been in the team since.

Speaking about Emegha’s injury earlier this month, Alonso said: “We hope that he feels better and he takes those steps so that he’s going to be more involved. 

“Players that are young and come here need to be patient, but knowing that for sure they will have their opportunity.”

Cole Palmer

Palmer is the latest addition to Chelsea’s injury list. He has not missed any games due to injury this season, but he has withdrawn from the England national team due to a minor muscular injury.

On the bright side, it is not a groin issue that plagued him last season, and he is expected to be available against Bournemouth.