Joao Pedro sidelined by knee injury at Chelsea

Chelsea attacker Joao Pedro has missed recent matches, including the London derby against Tottenham Hotspur, due to a knee injury. Manager Xabi Alonso confirmed that the Brazilian forward experienced discomfort during training and is currently dealing with fluid around the knee.

Further medical tests and scans are required to determine the severity of the injury and establish a recovery timeline. Pedro, who has been Chelsea’s top scorer this season with five goals and three assists, remains a doubt for upcoming fixtures, including the Carabao Cup tie against Liverpool and the match against Manchester United.

In his absence, Alonso has utilized Morgan Rogers in a forward role alongside Cole Palmer and Geovany Quenda. The injury blow comes amidst other squad absences for Chelsea, including goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, who is sidelined following surgery for a fractured jaw, and defender Reece James.