Chelsea FC continue to be without strikers Radamel Falcao and Loïc Rémy for Sunday’s highly anticipated game against Manchester United, while January loan signing Alexandre Pato is on a special training regime to get up to speed with the rest of the first-team squad.
Diego Costa remains the only fit out-and-out striker in the Chelsea first-team squad at the moment, and the Spain international will be making his first appearance against Manchester United since his arrival in England when the two sides face off on Sunday afternoon.
Blues boss Guus Hiddink also revealed that former Barcelona winger Pedro was suffering from a groin injury, but has since been able to train with the first-team squad and should be available this weekend. Meanwhile, striker Alexandre Pato has been put on a special training regime in a bid to accelerate his match fitness up to the required level, and the Brazilian will play no part in the next few games.
Rémy set to be involved next week, Pedro likely to be available this weekend
Speaking at his pre-match press conference on Friday, Hiddink addressed the injury issues in his squad, revealing that French striker Loïc Rémy was still recovering from a calf injury, but is set to be involved next week.
The Dutchman is quoted by the official Chelsea website as saying: “The squad is looking okay after the game against Watford. The players have come back in and look very fit, except for Falcao and Rémy. Rémy will be involved next week.”
The 69-year-old also provided an update on Pedro’s fitness, with the Spaniard set to return to the matchday squad after recovering from a groin problem. “Pedro was not available then because of a groin injury but he trained well this morning and we will see how he reacts to it. I don’t think there will be big problems.”
Pato début will have to wait
Chelsea fans who were looking forward to watching January signing Alexandre Pato will have to wait longer than anticipated to see the Brazilian strut his stuff, as the former AC Milan wonderkid continues to build up his fitness with a special training regime.
Hiddink said of the 26-year-old: “Pato is in his pre-season. We have made a training plan which he is doing now, training at least once but most of the days twice, which means he is getting his fitness but not full fitness yet. He will not be in for the upcoming few games because we want to have him fit because we don’t want the risk of injury in this tough league.
“He played his last game on 28 November then he had a holiday so it’s a kind of pre-season for him. We like to pressure him but we must be careful not to go over the top. I think and I hope he will have time to make an impact.”
