[ WATCH TV LIVE ]

For Chelsea and Mauricio Pochettino, when it rains it pours and right now it's monsoon season. Results have briefly turned ahead of the international break in October but the hopes for an influx of star players returning have somewhat been suppressed.

Armando Broja is back in action but forced back ahead of time due to necessity rather than choice, it feels. Noni Madueke also made a return to the first team squad against Fulham and got some pity minutes towards the end of the 2-0 win, it was the first time he had featured since before the previous break.

Outside of that and it's a similar tale for the Blues and their new manager. Four key first team players are yet to feature under Pochettino, three of which would be in contention for a starting spot. Reece James is set to go into his second international break of the season having only played once.

There is hope that the club captain will be back when domestic action gets underway again after being handed a ban by the FA that would rule him out of the trip to Burnley had he been fit anyway. Benoit Badiashile had been targeting this period in early October but is yet to be seen this term, Romeo Lavia is amongst those looking towards November rather than the immediate future.

It is the injury to Ben Chilwell - now expected to be out for around two months - that has blunted some of the optimism slowly building at Stamford Bridge and the continued feeling of anxiety over Moises Caicedo's fitness. The Ecuador international has joined Chelsea and seemingly fallen foul to the same curse that plagues many of those that came before him.

He missed the first game back after the last break due to a knock picked up with his country and has been nursing the knee problem ever since. At the end of the win at Craven Cottage he went down holding his leg and is a frustrating new doubt for the trip to Turf Moor.

READ MORE:Mauricio Pochettino has new Chelsea undroppable after Reece James ban with replacement found

READ MORE:Chelsea news and transfers LIVE - Reece James ban, Eden Hazard return, Mudryk latest, Chilwell update

"I hope there is nothing wrong, but it was a contusion," Pochettino said after the game. Now, with the Blues back in training ahead of the game there is extra worry after the 21-year-old wasn't pictured in images. Alongside James, Caicedo was absent from any coverage from the club and doesn't appear to have been involved once again.

He did miss most of the build up to playing Aston Villa last week and still made that squad but it is an unwanted setback. There was a boost for Pochettino and a much needed one too.

After scoring the opening goal and his first in Chelsea blue, it wasn't quite the dream night for Mykhailo Mudryk on Monday. He was forced off at half-time with a knock of his own. Mudryk put in one of his most inspired performances to date as he marauded down the left-hand side with Levi Colwill during the first 45 but has had fitness struggles since pre-season.

The 22-year-old had a disjointed tour of America after coming back from the Under-21 European Championships far from match ready. That has carried over into this season with a slow start but he has now picked up and started to deliver on the promise that prompted Chelsea to spend £62million to sign him.

"He was doing well," Pochettino told Sky Sports after the game. "[It is] unlucky that at half time he felt something in his quad but we hope that it is not a big issue and he will be ready for Saturday."

Mudryk, unlike Caicedo and James, has been spotted at the Cobham training base and also in the gym but there's no shock there. It means he is likely to be ready to play another big role for the Blues.

Adblock test (Why?)