Nine players could miss Brentford vs Chelsea after latest injury blow

Enzo Maresca of Chelsea (Image: Image Photo Agency/Getty Images)

Both Chelsea and Brentford will have players on the sidelines when they meet in the Premier League on Saturday evening.

The Blues will make the trip to the Gtech Community Stadium to take on the Bees in their first Premier League match after returning from the international break.

Enzo Maresca's side enjoyed an unbeaten start to the new season before the two-week hiatus, amassing seven points from their first three league fixtures.

With the Premier League returning this weekend, Chelsea will be hoping to secure another three points but will have to do so with some players on the sidelines.

Chelsea will be without Liam Delap , Benoit Badiashile , Romeo Lavia and Darrio Essugo due to injury when they take on Brentford. Maresca confirmed that Delap is expected to be sidelined for 10-12 weeks with a hamstring injury.

There is also a possibility that Cole Palmer is unavailable for the trip to West London, with the England international recovering from a groin injury.

"Cole [Palmer] took part in the session yesterday for the first time, not the entire session," Maresca told reporters on Friday.

"Today in the afternoon we have one more session, we're going to try with him, if he's okay, otherwise he will be out tomorrow again."

Alejandro Garnacho may also not be available to make his Chelsea debut as he continues to build up his fitness following his move from Manchester United. Levi Colwill also remains unavailable with a knee injury he suffered during the Club World Cup.

For Brentford, they will have Paris Maghoma on the sidelines with a hamstring injury. Gustavo Nunes is also expected to be unavailable for the Bees with an injury he suffered during pre-season.

Michael Kayode and Vitaly Janelt have also been injury doubts for Brentford over the international break. Both players, though, are expected to have recovered in time to feature against Chelsea this weekend.