Joao Pedro concern now clear as four Chelsea stars give Enzo Maresca major worry

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Enzo Maresca and Chelsea have a number of players who are not fully fit but some of them have gone off to represent their country in this ongoing international break

Enzo Maresca will be left to sweat over a handful of Chelsea players and their fitness levels over the next week in the final international break of 2025.

Pedro Neto and Enzo Fernandez were asked to be taken off in the Blues' win over Wolves before the break and both consequently withdrew from international duty with Portugal and Argentina, respectively. The fact they pulled out of the squads comes as a boost for Chelsea, but equally, Maresca will be hoping there is nothing too serious for two of his most crucial players.

Neto and Fernandez are two of a number of Blues players that have been struggling with their fitness levels in recent weeks. It has meant they have been unable to train in every session as Chelsea manage their workloads. Joao Pedro is another, but the 24-year-old forward has gone on international duty.

Brazil play in England and in France over the course of the international break, so travelling is not the issue it usually is for the South Americans. Maresca and his staff, though, will be keeping a close eye on Joao Pedro and how much he is used over the course of the next week by Carlo Ancelotti.

The Brazilian's groin has been an issue for him in recent weeks and like Neto and Fernandez, he has not been able to train every day. Moises Caicedo is the same, with the Ecuador midfielder in the squad for his country's two matches against Canada and New Zealand.

Maresca will be absolutely desperate to see a fully fit Caicedo return to Cobham next week given the midfielder's undoubted significance to the side. Caicedo, while not being 100% fit, has won Chelsea's Player of the Month award twice on the bounce for his contributions in September and October.

Elsewhere, Maresca will be hoping to have Cole Palmer back later this month with the 23-year-old set to return after what will be over two months out of action. Palmer limped off early into the defeat at Manchester United on September 20 with a groin problem and has not kicked a ball competitively since.

The groin issue has been a persistent one for Palmer in the early exchanges of the campaign and Chelsea are set to be cautious in re-introducing their talisman. Benoit Badiashile, meanwhile, has a chance of returning to the squad for the Blues' trip to Burnley next weekend.

football.london understands while Badiashile is yet to return to full training at the club's base in Cobham, there is an expectation he will do so next week. The 24-year-old is understood to be progressing well and has a chance of travelling to Turf Moor with the rest of his teammates.