Not looking good at all. Nothing like starting the season with the bare bones of a squad:

James McCarthy

Calf/Shin/Heel Injury

Aug 29: "It was a nasty bang that he took on the outside of his calf. I'm not certain he'll be fit even to play for [Ireland]; he'll need more time because it was such a bad bruise."

12/09/2020

James Tomkins

Thigh Injury

June 19: "It's a bit disappointing, James [was] injured when we stopped and I was rather hoping [he'd] recover. But [he's] picked up a fresh injury."

No Return Date

Gary Cahill

Thigh Injury

July 25: "It's a serious injury and it's going to take him a good while as there's a tendon involved in the muscle tear."

No Return Date

Patrick van Aanholt

Shoulder Injury

July 19: "[His shoulder] is dislocated and he's had it assessed. He'll need an operation. We'll have to see how it goes; there's no timescale as yet for when he's back."

No Return Date

Mamadou Sakho

Other

July 20: "It's definitely pulled - a tear to the muscle. The question will be how big a tear is it and we've got to hope it's not as big as Gary Cahill's."

No Return Date

Currently Being Assessed


Christian Benteke

Ankle/Foot Injury

July 24: "Christian's got a cracked bone in his foot. [It's] amazing really as he played so long with that cracked bone, we thought it was a bone bruise."

No Return Date


Nathan Ferguson

Knee Injury

Aug 25: "It's a tricky one because it was a knee injury, and an important one. It's that difficult moment - when do you put him back into competitive training? No-one's got a 100 per cent answer."

No Return Date

Eberechi Eze

Groin/Hip/Pelvic Injury

Aug 29: "Unfortunately, he felt his groin at half-time but he does not think it's too serious and neither does the doctor."

No Return Date

Currently Being Assessed

No but since none of the mentioned players (apart from Eze and McCarthy) even made the bench during pre-season, we aren't going to see them this weekend nor probably the game at OT.

WE will have to see what RHJ says when he gives his first pre-match interview later this week.

McCarthy, of course, did turn out for ROI for about 70 minutes, so presumably, he'll be ok

What makes you think he's injured as I presume that he is being kept out of harm's way so as not to prejudice a sale or loan

no one will buy him, even on a free, as he's wages are too high.

If we want to get rid of him, why give him a new contract?

And if we did want to sell him surely you have to put him in the shop window i.e. play him for 20-30 minutes in friendlies.

Your logic is flawed

Edited by palace99 (07 Sep 2020 12.20pm)

Edited by palace99 (07 Sep 2020 12.20pm)

1 down 7 to go then

Looking at today’s team sheet, it looks like the 8th injured player is Jairo Riedewald. Which is a shame as he was looking very good in pre season games.