Joao Pedro, Reece James and Moises Caicedo all missed Chelsea’s Tuesday training session at Cobham. Two days out from the Gtech Community Stadium, Xabi Alonso was not ready to say which of them would be on the team sheet.

“In terms of injuries and in terms of the squad, we are having the last training session tomorrow so no one is ruled out for us for Friday, so I prefer to be cautious and we will wait until tomorrow to take the final decision on every player,” Alonso told his Thursday press conference.

On Joao Pedro, pulled out of Brazil’s international window before returning to Chelsea, the manager was equally guarded.

“We will see tomorrow if he’s ready to play and we will make a decision.”

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Caicedo, who has not played since going off against Brighton at the end of August, is closer to a return but not certain. On Reece James, Alonso said his Tuesday absence had been a decision rather than an injury: “No, it was just a decision for Tuesday. Tomorrow, we will decide.”

Chelsea’s scoring line meets Brentford’s shape

Alonso, who began his four-year contract at Stamford Bridge on 1 July, has built his early tenure around goals. Chelsea have scored 18 in all competitions, more than any other Premier League side across the opening weeks. That output has not always been matched at the back, and Friday is their first away fixture of the season.

Brentford are the resistance. Keith Andrews, who signed a new contract to 2032 after taking over from Thomas Frank in the summer of 2025, has his side unbeaten, seventh in the table, yet to concede at home and third in the division for shots per 90.

Director of football Phil Giles put the tone of the start plainly.

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“Keith has done an outstanding job, the team are playing well and the things we thought we could be better at this season have all improved.”

Third meeting since May

The two clubs have met twice since May, both times in west London. Alonso’s away plans will not be helped if Joao Pedro does not make it. Chelsea’s captain James has not started a Premier League match yet this season.

Kick-off at the Gtech is 8pm local time on Friday, with Andrew Madley refereeing and Jarred Gillett on VAR.

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