Xabi Alonso has provided the latest update on the timescales of Joao Pedro and Maxence Lacroix’s returns from injury.

Chelsea were without both players in last Saturday’s 2-0 win over 10-man Manchester United and both will again be absent from the matchday squad when the Blues head to the Stadium of Light to face Sunderland in the Premier League on Sunday.

The clash against the side bottom of the league table is Chelsea’s final match before the upcoming international break.

Lacroix, meanwhile, limped off late in the first half of the Carabao Cup penalty shoot-out defeat to Liverpool with a suspected hamstring injury that it has been said could keep him out for quite some time.

The Chelsea manager was asked for the latest update on both players’ recoveries when he addressed the media at a press conference on Friday afternoon.

“No, not really updates,” he said. “For sure, we are not expecting them for [Sunday].

“Let’s see after the international break the recovery that they [have] made. Ahead of the Leeds game, I will have more [news] but not today.”

Maxence Lacroix will miss out against Sunderland at the weekend

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The home game against Leeds on November 21 is Chelsea’s first match back after the upcoming two-week international break which begins after this weekend.

Chelsea’s training session on Saturday is their last before the Sunderland game and will be used to determine whether Emi Martinez and Moises Caicedo are fit to play in that game.

Martinez has been recovering following jaw surgery, while Caicedo felt some discomfort after playing in the United game.

But while those are in contention against Sunderland, Jorrel Hato is not.

“No, no, no — he is not fit,” Alonso said of the Dutchman. “It will take him some more weeks to be fit.”