Chelsea’s luck with injuries continues to run thin as Dario Essugo has picked up a knock while away with Portugal’s Under-21 squad. The midfielder, signed from Sporting for £18.5 million in June, is yet to start a game for the Blues and now faces a race to be fit for Saturday’s West London derby against Brentford.
Essugo is considered Chelsea’s understudy to Moises Caicedo and his absence will stretch Enzo Maresca’s midfield options. A statement from the Portuguese Football Federation confirmed the nature of the issue: “The Chelsea midfielder was excused from training due to a muscle problem in his right thigh, which he suffered after training. The athlete was evaluated by the Portuguese Football Federation’s Health and Performance Department and was declared unavailable.”
Chelsea are already without several key players, including Levi Colwill with an ACL tear and Cole Palmer with a groin problem. Liam Delap, Romeo Lavia and Benoit Badiashile are also sidelined, leaving the squad looking thin at a crucial stage of the season.
Essugo has made three substitute appearances, all coming at the Club World Cup against LAFC, ES Tunis and Palmeiras. He has been named on the bench in all three Premier League fixtures this season but is still waiting for his league debut.
Maresca must now decide whether to reshuffle his midfield options or rely more heavily on Caicedo, risking fatigue in a congested run of fixtures.
This latest setback underlines the mounting challenges Chelsea face in balancing squad fitness and performance during a campaign that has already tested their depth.
