Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso has yet to test out the full extent of his squad, judging by his comments on injured striker Emmanuel Emegha.
The Spaniard appeared to rue the absence of the former Strasbourg striker, predicting that he will be a problem for defenders once he overcomes his injury challenges.
The Dutchman has yet to make his debut for the Blues since joining from their sister club this summer, and Alonso believes that his physical stature and blistering speed will make an immediate impression once fully fit.
He will be absent for their early kick-off against Everton on Saturday after he sustained a minor injury in training.
'He Can Do Great Things': Alonso Reveals Optimistic View of Emegha
Xabi Alonso appeared before the press on Friday, providing latest team news ahead of the game against the Toffees.
Speaking about Emegha, the former Bayer Leverkusen manager pointed out that he considers the striker to be a special player due to his physical attributes and understanding of space.
He tipped the 23-year-old striker to achieve great things when he gets back in shape after his injury nightmare.
"Emegha… he is very special. He's going to be difficult for the defenders when he's in good shape. He's 1.95m, he's quick, attacks the space. When he will be ready, he can do great things," he said.
Standing at 1.95 meters (6ft 5in), Emegha brings a rare blend of towering height, direct acceleration, and off-ball movement that complements main starter Joao Pedro and veteran backup Danny Welbeck.
Alonso was able to assess him clearly in pre-season at Cobham, as he scored in back-to-back behind-closed-doors friendlies against Crawley Town and Bromley before sustaining an injury that ruled him out of their tour of Australia and Asia.
Navigating Injury Hurdles as Emegha Prepares for Stamford Bridge Breakthrough
Chelsea took full advantage of their BlueCo links to Strasbourg to snap up Emegha for a reported fee of €25 million.
The Netherlands international signed for the Blues in the summer of 2025 but spent the whole of the 2025-26 season at Strasbourg before moving to London this summer.
His final season in France was marred by several injury problems, and he played only 18 times across all competitions, scoring eight goals.
He joined pre-season from the start at Cobham this summer, competing with Pedro and Liam Delap for a spot in the striker rotation.
Alonso saw enough from him to warrant keeping him at the club despite that he suffered a hamstring injury just before the team departed for Australia.
His pathway to his Blues debut has required patience, as he only managed to return to the matchday squad for their Carabao Cup win over Luton Town back in August.
Since then, the young striker has been out of action and built up his sharpness at Cobham during the international break.
While a minor tweak ruled him out of the weekend fixture at Goodison Park, Chelsea’s medical team is taking a cautious approach to ensure he reaches 100% conditioning.
The Blues do not immediately need him, with Pedro in brilliant form and Welbeck proving to be a capable deputy so far.
Emegha offers something different, as his ability to stretch deep defensive blocks offers the manager a distinct tactical wild card once handed his first-team debut.
