Joao Pedro a Doubt for Chelsea's Trip to Brentford

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has not confirmed the severity of Joao Pedro’s knee injury ahead of Friday’s match against Brentford.

The Brazilian has been the find of Chelsea's season, with three goals and an assist in four Premier League games and the division's Player of the Month award for August already in his pocket. He missed the club's open training session in midweek and was withdrawn from Brazil's squad for the international break, with Fluminense's Matheus Martinelli called up in his place. ESPN Brasil reported that Pedro picked up a knee sprain in the 2-2 draw with Hull City last Saturday, was examined at a London clinic on Tuesday and has been advised to rest for at least three weeks, with the scan results passed on to the Brazilian federation.

Maresca gave nothing away at his press conference on Thursday.

«We will see tomorrow if he's ready to play and we will make a decision, We analysed that we wanted to have good balance between maturity, between experience, talent, energy, and that’s why we have taken a step forward, and we have improved, I think in that part, Jordan has played an important role, being a midfielder, the impact he can have with other players, but he has this quality and personality to improve and help other players have».

He did at least confirm the timing of the call: a final training session on Friday would decide the matter, with no one yet ruled out of the squad.

Pressed for more on the extent of the injury, Maresca declined to go into detail. He suggested a definitive verdict would come only when it had to.

Danny Welbeck, the 35-year-old summer signing from Brighton, looks the likeliest replacement up front. He has scored three times in two Carabao Cup games since joining, though minutes have been limited. Chelsea also have doubts over Moises Caicedo, Reece James and Marc Cucurella, and Jordan Henderson remains without a competitive debut for the club since arriving from Newcastle, still working back from a wrist injury sustained after England's World Cup last-16 win over Senegal. Maresca pointed to Henderson's spell at Newcastle last season as reason to trust him with the reunion, on or off the pitch.

Chelsea have conceded 12 goals in six games in all competitions this season, and Maresca may revert to his preferred 3-4-2-1 to cope with Brentford's pace out wide after using a back four against Hull. The Gtech Community Stadium kicks off at 8pm BST on Friday.