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Chelsea players on international duty are spread across five continents this week, and the headline names are a missing one and a returning one: Cole Palmer was left out of Thomas Tuchel’s England squad, while Moisés Caicedo is set to play for Ecuador for the first time since the World Cup. Twelve Chelsea first-team players are in senior squads, and none of the matches has been played yet, so there are no minutes or contributions to report. The first games come on Thursday 12 November.
| Player | Country | First match (UK time) | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Morgan Rogers | England | v Croatia, Thu 12 Nov, 19:45 | Called up |
| Mike Penders | Belgium | at Turkey, Thu 12 Nov, 17:00 | Called up |
| Romeo Lavia | Belgium | at Turkey, Thu 12 Nov, 17:00 | Called up |
| Malo Gusto | France | at Italy, Thu 12 Nov, 19:45 | Called up |
| Marco Palestra | Italy | v France, Thu 12 Nov, 19:45 | Called up, two caps |
| Emiliano Martinez | Argentina | v Uruguay, Fri 13 Nov, 23:00 | Named despite jaw injury |
| Valentin Barco | Argentina | v Uruguay, Fri 13 Nov, 23:00 | Called up |
| Aaron Anselmino | Argentina | v Uruguay, Fri 13 Nov, 23:00 | First senior call-up |
| Estevão | Brazil | v Japan, Sat 14 Nov, 10:15 | Called up |
| Moisés Caicedo | Ecuador | v Costa Rica, Sat 14 Nov, 00:00 | First cap since World Cup |
| Pedro Neto | Portugal | v Denmark, Sat 14 Nov, 19:45 | Called up |
| Geovany Quenda | Portugal | v Denmark, Sat 14 Nov, 19:45 | Could make debut |
Chelsea’s own call-up list puts Estevão, Caicedo and the Argentina trio on friendlies, while Belgium, France, Italy, Portugal and England are in the final Nations League group games.
Palmer is the story at home. Tuchel left him out and said “He misses too many opportunities to impress”, a line the BBC’s Phil McNulty called a blunt explanation. The 24-year-old has played in only three of Tuchel’s 26 games, and his last cap was the 1-0 defeat by Japan at Wembley in March. England checked his fitness before the squad was named and were told he was fit, so this was a selection decision. Xabi Alonso said he hasn’t spoken to Palmer about England and called himself “very happy with his quality, with his attitude and the impact he is having”. Alonso said before the break that Palmer was “struggling”, so Chelsea get a full week with him.
Rogers goes as Chelsea’s only England player. England host Croatia at Wembley on Thursday 12 November (19:45) and travel to Spain in Madrid on Sunday 15 November (19:45), and they only need to avoid defeat against Croatia to reach the Nations League quarter-finals. With Palmer out, Tuchel has Rogers, Jude Bellingham, Eberechi Eze, Morgan Gibbs-White and the new call-up Josh King for the attacking midfield places, so Rogers has to be sharp to start.
Caicedo rejoins Ecuador for friendlies at home, against Costa Rica in Quito and Bolivia in Guayaquil, his first appearances for his country since the World Cup. Estevão heads with Brazil to Singapore for friendlies against Japan and the hosts. Martinez, Barco and Anselmino fly to Argentina for the games with Uruguay in Buenos Aires and Costa Rica in Cordoba. Anselmino’s call-up is his first at senior level. Quenda could make his Portugal debut, with Neto also in the squad for the Nations League games against Denmark and Wales.
Two loanees are also in senior squads: goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen with Denmark, and Genesis Antwi, who is on loan at Strasbourg, with a first Sweden call-up.
Martinez is the biggest question. SoccerNews, citing Stats Perform, reported that Scaloni included him despite the fractured jaw he suffered last month, and Fantasy Premier League data lists him with a head injury and a 75% chance of playing. Chelsea’s own call-up article names him in the Argentina group, but whether he actually plays against Uruguay hasn’t been confirmed.
Josh Acheampong is with England Under-21s for friendlies against Portugal and France, even though Fantasy Premier League data has him at 75% with an unspecified injury. João Pedro (thigh), Reece James (knee), Jorrel Hato and Maxence Lacroix (hamstring) are all listed at 0% with no return date and stay at Cobham.
Chelsea’s next game is at home to Leeds United on Saturday 21 November at 15:00 at Stamford Bridge. The last international matches are on Tuesday 17 November, so Caicedo (Ecuador v Bolivia, 23:30), Martinez, Barco and Anselmino (Argentina v Costa Rica, 21:00) will have under four days to travel back and recover. Palmer is the one player of note who will be at Cobham for the break.
England face Spain on Sunday 15 November, Belgium host Italy the same evening, France host Turkey in Bordeaux, and Wales host Portugal on Tuesday 17 November at 19:45.
None has been reported injured on duty yet. Martinez is the one with a fitness question, because of a jaw injury, and Acheampong is in the Under-21 squad with a 75% flag.
Tuchel said Palmer “misses too many opportunities to impress” and that the squad is built around the players from the previous camp. England were told Palmer was fit.
Chelsea host Leeds United on Saturday 21 November at 15:00 UK time.
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