Round-up: Pedro injured and QPR are looking for striker
Pedro has been ruled out of Chelsea’s opening Premier League game of the season after picking up an injury.
The Spaniard has an ankle problem and has not recovered in time for Saturday’s visit of Burnley.
Pedro suffered the injury during Sunday’s Community Shield game against Arsenal at Wembley, where he was sent off.
Boss Antonio Conte confirmed: “Pedro is not available. He is suffering from an injury in the Arsenal game and was not able to recover. It is a knock in his ankle.”
Pedro would have been an option to replace the suspended Victor Moses at right wing-back.
Conte added that Moses’ ban could lead to a debut for summer signing Antonio Rudiger – a move that would probably see Cesar Azpilicueta move to wing-back.
Asked if Rudiger might be involved, Conte said: “He could be – also because there is no Moses.
“It could be an opportunity to start the game for Rudiger. I have been impressed with him. He is a strong player with a good personality.”
Blues even more committed, says Conte
Conte says Chelsea’s commitment during pre-season has been ever better than last season when they won the Premier League.
There have been reports that Conte is unhappy with the size of the squad and the club’s summer transfer activity.
But Italian said: “Honestly I am pleased because we are working very well with the team and this group of players and the commitment is incredible and also better than the last season.
“I am very happy because these players are working so hard. We are trying to improve.”
Baker’s new deal and loan move
Embed from Getty Images
Lewis Baker has signed a new five-year Chelsea contract and completed a season-long loan move to Middlesbrough.
Baker, 22, spent last season on loan at Vitesse in the Netherlands, scoring 10 goals in 33 appearances, and helped England to the semi-finals of the European Under-21s Championships this summer.
“It’s going to be an exciting season, there are a lot of games in the Championship,” Baker told Boro’s website.
“I’m here to give my input and hopefully get the club back to the Premier League.”
Morata needs time – Conte
Alvaro Morata will need more time to fully understand the key role he has to play as Chelsea’s main striker, according to Conte.
Morata joined from Real Madrid in July with the Blues having already started their pre-season training.
“Alvaro is working very well and is improving a lot,” Conte said.
“In these 10 days he is improving his physical condition and is starting to understand what we want, but he needs time to understand to adapt to our style of football.
“It is normal for me, and also for players that start to work with me, that they need time to adapt to our style of football.
“A striker is a really important role and it is very important to understand which is the position I want during the game. It is more difficult to adapt than with the other roles.”
Bees would want £2m+ for Dean
Brentford would want £2m plus add-ons to sell defender Harlee Dean.
The centre-back, who is in the final year of his contract, is of interest to Sheffield Wednesday, Hull City and Leeds United.
Dean, 26, has discussed a new deal at Griffin Park but is waiting to see whether a club comes in for him before making a decision on his future.
Boss Dean Smith has said Dean will not regain the captaincy unless the player signs a new deal.
LuaLua return confirmed
QPR have confirmed Kazenga LuaLua’s return on a six-month loan from Brighton.
West London Sport recently revealed that Rangers were set to bring back the 26-year-old winger ahead of this weekend’s game against Sheffield Wednesday.
He joined the R’s on loan in January and made 11 appearances for them last season, nine of them as a substitute.
The new loan deal went through in time for LuaLua to be available for the Wednesday game and he is also able to play for Rangers in the Carabao Cup.
QPR injury news
QPR will be without striker Idrissa Sylla and winger Yeni Ngbakoto for Saturday’s trip to Sheffield Wednesday.
Sylla picked up a knock to the head in Tuesday’s 1-0 win EFL Cup win against Northampton Town, while Ngbakoto – scorer of the winning goal – is sidelined with an ankle problem picked up in training.
Three other Rangers players have also been ruled out – midfielder Jordan Cousins (hamstring) and centre-back Grant Hall (knee tendonitis) remain injured, while Steven Caulker is still short of match fitness, despite 90 minutes against the Cobblers.
Striker Matt Smith, who required six stitches to a face wound in midweek, is fit for the trip to Hillsborough.
Rangers look at loan options
QPR are considering a number of strikers as a potential loan signing before the transfer window closes.
Manager Ian Holloway had hoped to sign a forward on a permanent deal this summer.
However, budgetary restrictions, largely resulting from Financial Fair Play rules, mean the club almost certainly need to trim their squad before being able to buy.
Steven Caulker leaving for Celtic would significantly reduce QPR’s wage bill and at one stage there was an expectation that the move would happen, but now the defender is expected to stay.
Rangers would consider offers for a number of their players, but apart from talks with Celtic over Caulker there has not been so much as an enquiry about any of the first-team squad.
That limits the club’s options in the transfer market and makes the arrival of a striker on loan rather than on a permanent basis more likely.
Woodrow plays in Under-23 game
Cauley Woodrow played 45 minutes as Fulham’s Under-23s were beaten 2-1 by their Middlesbrough counterparts on Friday.
Sean Kavanagh, Matt O’Riley and George Williams also started the game. Stephen Humphrys scored Fulham’s goal.
Middlesex lose
Middlesex left themselves with too much to do to overhaul Essex to deliver a blow to their hopes of making the T20 Blast knockout stages.
Leg-spinner Nathan Sowter blasted a hole in the middle of the Essex innings with career-best T20 figures of 4-23, but Adam Wheater’s 21-ball 43 laid the foundations for the home win.
Ravi Bopara and Mohammad Amir then bowled miserly four-over spells as several Middlesex batsmen failed to capitalise on starts.
