Overview

• Essugo suffered a muscle problem in his right thigh during Portugal Under-21 training, and the FPF declared him unavailable.
• Chelsea said medical assessments determined surgery was necessary, and he will rehabilitate under the club’s medical staff at Cobham.
• The summer signing arrived from Sporting for £18.5 million and is regarded as the understudy to Moises Caicedo.
• He has been named on the bench for Chelsea’s first three Premier League games and made three substitute appearances at the Club World Cup.
• His short-term availability remains unclear, with the upcoming visit to Brentford in doubt and no return date provided.