According to a report by Football London on Friday, November 6, 2026, Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso has provided updates on Emiliano Martinez's fitness, Moises Caicedo's injury concern and Cole Palmer's omission from the latest England squad ahead of Sunday's Premier League encounter with Sunderland.

Martinez has returned to training after undergoing surgery for a fractured jaw last month, raising the possibility that the goalkeeper could feature against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.

The Argentine has been training with a protective mask and has reportedly made good progress in his recovery. Alonso confirmed that the 33-year-old had worked with the squad for almost the entire week but stopped short of guaranteeing him a starting place.

The Chelsea manager explained that a final assessment would take place during Saturday's training session before a decision was made about his involvement on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Caicedo remains a concern after experiencing discomfort following Chelsea's previous match. The midfielder was absent from the opening part of Wednesday's training session, prompting questions about his availability.

Alonso described the problem as discomfort rather than a calf injury and said the club would assess his condition during the final training session before travelling to Sunderland.

The Chelsea boss also confirmed that Joao Pedro and Maxence Lacroix would not be available for the weekend fixture. Both players are expected to undergo further recovery work during the international break, with the manager hoping to provide a clearer update before the meeting with Leeds United.

Jorrel Hato is another player who remains unavailable, with Alonso revealing that the defender needs several more weeks before he can return to action.

The press conference also addressed Palmer's omission from Thomas Tuchel's latest England squad. Despite reports that the national team had made enquiries about his availability, the midfielder was not selected for the upcoming Nations League fixtures against Croatia and Spain.

Alonso insisted that Chelsea's immediate priority was helping Palmer continue improving his performances at club level. He praised the 24-year-old's quality, attitude and understanding with the other attacking players.

The manager also dismissed suggestions that he would encourage a fit player to withdraw from international duty, explaining that Chelsea provides national teams with medical information when necessary so decisions can be made together.

On Wesley Fofana, Alonso defended his decision to keep the defender on the pitch after a difficult first half in the previous match. He praised the Frenchman's response after the break and described him as an important member of the squad.

Chelsea currently occupy a top-four position, but Alonso warned that the league table could change quickly. He also praised Sunderland's performances, insisting that Sunday's opponents deserved more points than they had collected so far this season.