Xabi Alonso is set to work with his full Chelsea squad for the first time this week as several senior players return to Cobham following their extended post-World Cup breaks.
Chelsea have completed their lengthy pre-season tour of Australia and Asia, but Alonso has spent much of the summer without a number of important players who progressed deep into the World Cup.
That situation is now changing.
Football.London reports that Enzo Fernandez, Reece James and summer signing Morgan Rogers are among the Chelsea players returning to training this week, giving Alonso his first opportunity to bring the different sections of his squad together.
Xabi Alonso finally gets Chelsea squad together
The returning players are expected to undergo the usual fitness assessments before gradually increasing their workload at Cobham.
Their absence has created an unusual pre-season for Alonso. Chelsea travelled through Australia and Asia with a mixture of established first-team players, new signings and academy prospects, while several of the biggest names in the squad remained on extended leave.
Morgan Rogers is particularly significant.
Chelsea paid £117million to sign the England international from Aston Villa this summer, but his involvement at the World Cup prevented him from joining Alonso’s touring group. His return will allow the Chelsea head coach to begin integrating one of the club’s biggest summer additions into his attacking structure.
Reece James and Fernandez will also return with important roles to play. Both are established senior figures, and Alonso will now have considerably more options as preparations move into their final phase before the Premier League season begins.
ReadChelsea reported earlier today that Cole Palmer has already impressed Alonso with his fitness and attitude during pre-season. Palmer has also taken on greater responsibility around Chelsea’s younger players during the tour.
Alonso can now begin building those relationships across something much closer to his complete squad.
Chelsea’s final friendly comes against Real Sociedad at Stamford Bridge this weekend, although the returning World Cup players may initially be managed carefully after only just resuming training.
The more significant development comes on the training ground.
After spending much of his first Chelsea pre-season working with a divided group, Alonso is finally about to see how his new signings and established senior players fit together.
