Latest Bournemouth injury news for Chelsea clash as two out with one expected back
Chelsea are back in action after the international break when they travel to Bournemouth on Saturday. The Blues have made a mixed start to the season, having picked up four points from their opening three fixtures.
They started the season with a 2-0 defeat to champions Manchester City, but responded with a thumping 6-2 win at Wolves. Enzo Maresca's side were held to a 1-1 draw against Crystal Palace before the international period and sit 11th in the Premier League table. Alongside this, the Blues booked their place in the next round of the Conference League after a two-legged victory over Swiss side Servette.
Next up for the Blues is a trip to the Vitality Stadium to face Bournemouth, who are one of the remaining six unbeaten teams left in the Premier League this season. The Cherries have made a mixed start, having picked up five points from their first three games. They began the campaign with a 1-1 draw at Nottingham Forest before collecting another point, this time against Newcastle. Andoni Iraola's side earned their first win just before the international break when they came from behind to beat Everton 3-2.
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It's set to be another stern test for Maresca's Chelsea, but Bournemouth could be without a number of players due to injury. Philip Billing came off the bench on the opening weekend at Forest but has missed the last two matches with a back problem. He is expected to be back available to face the Blues, however.
Someone that won't be fit enough is forward Enes Unal. The 27-year-old has an ankle injury that will likely keep him out until at least the end of the month. Iraola said last month: "He had surgery and they put something in the toe and he couldn’t do almost anything until now.
"Now everything is clear, everything goes in a good way and he started running (on Friday). But one thing is to start running and the other thing is to be available to be with the team. I think he is going to be out for some weeks. We cannot count on him for the first games of the season."
Meanwhile, Tyler Adams, who joined the Cherries from Leeds in 2023, will be out until around mid-October with a lower back injury. Iraola said: "He finished the season with an injury in his back. He wanted to play Copa America because it was very important for him, but he had restrictions and was still in pain, so two days after they were knocked out, he had surgery."