Chelsea have been hit with another injury concern during the international break after Jamie Gittens was forced off during England U21’s 4-2 win over Kazakhstan and was later seen leaving the stadium on crutches.
According to Metro on Saturday, September 26, 2026, Gittens started the game but was unable to continue after picking up an ankle injury. The Chelsea winger was replaced in the 39th minute by former Blues youngster Tyrique George.
Gittens was later pictured using crutches as he left Molineux, raising concerns over how serious the injury could be. England U21 manager Lee Carsley explained that the player had taken a kick to the ankle and the medical team decided not to risk making the problem worse.
Carsley also confirmed that Gittens would return to Chelsea for further assessment instead of remaining with the England U21 squad.
The injury is another setback for the 22-year-old, who joined Chelsea from Borussia Dortmund for around £52 million last year. He has yet to make a Premier League appearance this season and has not featured prominently in Xabi Alonso’s plans.
Chelsea are already dealing with other fitness concerns. Cole Palmer and Joao Pedro have both returned from international duty after picking up problems, while goalkeeper Mike Penders is also facing uncertainty.
Penders was left out of Belgium’s squad for their 2-0 Nations League win over Italy on Friday. The goalkeeper is still part of the Belgium setup, but there are doubts over whether he will recover in time for Monday’s game against France.
Reports claim the 21-year-old suffered a quadriceps injury during training. The extent of the injury is not yet known, with further assessments expected to determine whether he could be out for a few weeks or much longer.
Penders has been given opportunities by Chelsea this season, starting both of the club’s Carabao Cup matches. He currently serves as the understudy to Emiliano Martinez and is regarded as one of the club’s promising young players.
Chelsea will now wait for further medical assessments on both Gittens and Penders. If either injury proves serious, it could leave Alonso with fewer options as the club continues its push for domestic success and Champions League qualification.
Chelsea’s next fixture is against Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge on October 10.
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