Emmanuel Emegha and Geovany Quenda have both been left out of Chelsea’s initial 27-man travelling squad for their pre-season tour of Australia and Asia.
Emegha, who joined Chelsea from BlueCo sister club Strasbourg this summer, has scored in both behind-closed-doors friendlies so far at Cobham to kick off the Xabi Alonso era, against Crawley and Bromley.
However, he will now miss at least part of the Blues’ pre-season tour as he works his way back to fitness having sustained a hamstring injury against Bromley on Thursday, per BBC Sport.
Fellow summer arrival Quenda also reportedly has a minor unspecified issue that is not believed to be serious.
Alonso has named a youthful travelling squad, with many senior players on extended leave following the World Cup, and there will be opportunities for highly-regarded youngsters Reggie Walsh, Reggie Watson and Ryan Kavuma-McQueen.
Australian-born England youth international Mahdi Nicoll-Jazuli has also been included in the squad. The 16-year-old was born in Sydney and will return to the city after impressing during the first few weeks of pre-season.
17-year-old striker Dastan Satpaev has also been selected by Alonso after formally completing his move from Kazakhstan Premier League winners FC Kairat this summer.
Nicolas Jackson and Pedro Neto are both attracting interest from other clubs, but their absence from Chelsea’s travelling squad is down to them being granted extended leave after the World Cup.
Record signing Morgan Rogers is also on a break after England’s World Cup campaign, though fellow new arrival Marco Palestra is travelling to Australia.
Axel Disasi, who has not returned for pre-season training, has also not travelled with the squad as Chelsea look to negotiate his departure from the club.
Chelsea would prefer a permanent exit for Disasi, whom they value at £25million plus add-ons, but are also open to a loan with a conditional obligation to buy, similar to the one they negotiated with Aston Villa for Alejandro Garnacho earlier this week.
Disasi was brought up in negotiations for Crystal Palace centre-back Maxence Lacroix, but an agreement could not be reached, and Lacroix is now set to join the Blues for around £52m.
Lacroix has undergone a medical, with his move expected to be finalised on Friday.
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