Armando Broja returns to Chelsea early from international duty

The 22-year-old has been gradually working his way back from the severe knee injury he sustained last December and has four appearances to his name under Mauricio Pochettino this season.

Broja netted his first Chelsea goal in nearly a year - and only his second for the club at senior level - in a 2-0 West London derby win over Fulham on October 2, before also playing the first half of a 4-1 thrashing of Burnley.

Following his domestic comeback, Broja was included in the Albania squad for October's fixtures with the Czech Republic and Bulgaria in Euro 2024 qualifying and an international friendly respectively.

Albania moved one step closer to qualifying for next year's tournament in Germany with a 3-0 beating of the Czechs on Thursday, but Broja was not involved in that contest, and head coach Sylvinho recently offered a pessimistic update on his fitness.

Speaking ahead of the win over the Czech Republic, the former Arsenal and Barcelona full-back revealed that Broja was to be sent back to London following talks with national team doctors and Chelsea medics.

"As for Broja, I have to give bad news. He was with the team for only two days. After consulting with our doctors and Chelsea's, he can't make it, he won't be ready for tomorrow. We have other players to evaluate," Sylvinho told the media.

However, Broja is not believed to be suffering from a serious affliction, and Chelsea will carefully manage his fitness with the hope that he can play a part against Arsenal on October 21.

The Slough-born attacker - who left Tottenham Hotspur's youth academy in 2009 to join the Blues - enjoyed positive loan spells at Vitesse and Southampton before his first-team breakthrough, netting nine goals for the latter in the 2021-22 season.

Following his promotion to the senior Chelsea ranks, Broja was handed a new long-term contract until the summer of 2028 and has now represented the club on 23 occasions, scoring two goals and providing one assist.

Broja represents one of a few fresh fitness concerns to emerge for a ravaged Chelsea side during the international break, as Cole Palmer sustained a thigh injury during England Under-21s' 9-1 demolition of Serbia.

Defender Axel Disasi was called up to the France squad as a replacement for Dayot Upamecano, but only a few hours after the announcement, the ex-Monaco man withdrew himself due to a thigh problem.

Broja's fellow striker Nicolas Jackson has also undergone wrist surgery and pulled out of the Senegal squad, although there is hope that the summer signing will be able to lead the line against Arsenal.

However, all of Wesley Fofana, Christopher Nkunku, Ben Chilwell and Romeo Lavia will miss the visit of the Gunners, while Reece James, Trevoh Chalobah, Benoit Badiashile and Marcus Bettinelli will need assessing in the coming days.

On a brighter note, Malo Gusto will return from a three-game domestic ban next weekend, and the 20-year-old made his France debut as a substitute in Friday's 2-1 Euro 2024 qualifying win over the Netherlands.