Chelsea Await Jamie Gittens Scan After England Under-21 Ankle Injury
Chelsea are awaiting an assessment on Jamie Gittens after the winger suffered an ankle knock while representing England in Friday’s 4-2 European Under-21 Championship qualifying win over Kazakhstan at Molineux.
International-break injury watch
| Player | Issue | Current position |
|---|---|---|
| Jamie Gittens | Ankle knock | Returned to Chelsea for tests |
| Mike Penders | Thigh problem | Injured with Belgium |
| Cole Palmer | Playing through pain | Withdrew from England squad |
Gittens had started for Lee Carsley’s side but was taken off six minutes before the interval, with Tyrique George introduced in his place. Carsley said the decision was precautionary, explaining that the forward had been kicked on the ankle and would not remain in camp for observation given the age of the squad.
The setback adds to an increasingly difficult international window for Chelsea. Goalkeeper Penders has already sustained a thigh injury during Belgium duty, while Palmer withdrew from the senior England group to follow an individual recovery programme.
England manager Thomas Tuchel said Palmer had been dealing with discomfort and pain which prevented him from performing at his required level. He accepted the Chelsea player’s decision to pull out, but described it as another lost opportunity for a footballer whose availability for international camps has repeatedly been affected by injuries.
Tuchel said he did not hold Palmer responsible, but stressed that players can only make an impression on the England staff by being present in camp and taking the field. Missing those sessions, he said, removes a further chance to demonstrate their level.
Enzo Maresca is already managing a lengthy list of absentees at Chelsea. João Pedro, Reece James, Moisés Caicedo, Marco Palestra and Emmanuel Emegha are all unavailable, leaving the club particularly concerned by Gittens’ latest problem after his £51.5 million move from Borussia Dortmund.
Chelsea’s October programme begins against Bournemouth on October 10, followed by Everton on October 17 and Tottenham on October 24. A Capital One Cup tie with Liverpool follows on October 28, before the Blues travel to Manchester United on October 31.
