Chelsea manager Xavi Alonso has offered an encouraging injury update on Marco Palestra, revealing that the Italian wing-back could make his competitive debut for the club before the September 2026 international break — targeting either the fixture against Brentford or Bournemouth.

Palestra turned heads during Chelsea's pre-season tour of Australia and Asia, operating effectively across both wing-back positions. He had been earmarked as a central figure in Alonso's plans for the opening weeks of the campaign, having gained extensive experience in a back-three system last season.

A quad injury delays his debut

However, Palestra picked up a quad injury in the build-up to the Premier League's opening weekend and has featured neither in a matchday squad nor on the substitutes' bench since. The precise timeline for his return had remained uncertain — until now.

Speaking to the club's official website ahead of Chelsea's league match against Hull City, Alonso shed light on his condition.