How Chelsea players performed during September international break
- Chelsea had 14 players away on international duty in September
- Cole Palmer, Wesley Fofana & Omari Kellyman all withdrew from national squads
- Future Blues Estevao & Kendry Paez also in action
By Tom Gott
14 members of Chelsea's senior squad jetted across the globe to represent their countries during the September international break.
There were senior debuts, long-awaited returns and a whole host of solid showings from the Blues, who are slowly making their ways back to Cobham to get back to club action.
Here's how Chelsea's international players fared during the September international break.
Robert Sanchez
Sanchez returned to the Spain squad for the first time since March 2023 after usual starter Unai Simon was sidelined through injury.
He did not play a single minute, however, watching a 0-0 draw with Serbia and a 4-1 win over Switzerland from the bench.
Filip Jorgensen
Jorgensen is not yet a senior international and continues to turn out for Denmark's Under-21 side.
It wasn't a pretty break for the stopper as he shipped four in a crushing loss to Iceland, although he did keep a clean sheet during his time on the pitch against Czechia.
Lucas Bergstrom
While he waits to discover his next move at club level, Bergstrom jetted off to link up with Finland's Under-21s.
The 22-year-old played every minute in wins over Armenia and Romania, keeping a clean sheet in his last outing.
Levi Colwill
Having missed out on a spot in the England squad for Euro 2024, Colwill's excellent start to the season was rewarded with a return to the team under new interim boss Lee Carsley.
He played 90 minutes at left-back in the 2-0 win over the Republic of Ireland, before coming off the bench for the final 29 minutes of another 2-0 triumph against Finland.
Marc Cucurella
A star of Spain's Euro 2024 success, Cucurella did not have such a prominent role to play for his country this month.
After 56 minutes against Serbia, Cucurella was rested on the bench against Switzerland, meaning he should be feeling fresh for his return to club action.
Renato Veiga
After a handful of impressive cameos for Chelsea, Veiga was rewarded with his first call-up to the Portugal squad.
Unfortunately, he failed to make it off the bench.
Moises Caicedo
As usual, Caicedo was active until the late stages of the international window with Ecuador.
The midfielder played 90 minutes against both Brazil and Peru, wearing the captain's armband for the latter.
Enzo Fernandez
Anyone wondering whether Fernandez is good enough for Chelsea need only to watch his performance in Argentina's 3-0 win over Chile. He was sensational in a deep-lying role.
Things went downhill against Colombia, however, as Fernandez conceded a decisive penalty in a 2-1 defeat.
Mykhailo Mudryk
A mystery injury kept Mudryk out of Ukraine's 2-1 defeat to Albania.
It was clearly not serious, however, as the winger played 90 minutes three days later against Czechia, producing another typically energetic showing.
Joao Felix
Felix's search for consistency at club level has taken its toll on his international standing with Portugal.
No longer a regular starter, he watched the 2-1 win over Croatia from the bench and saw just 22 minutes against Scotland.
Pedro Neto
Neto started both of Portugal's games in the September break but was substituted at half-time in both.
Portugal boss Roberto Martinez insisted Neto's withdrawals were part of a plan to help build his fitness, with the 24-year-old still working his way back to his best physical condition.
Noni Madueke
Like Colwill, Madueke's excellent club form saw him called up to the England squad. Considering his long history with Carsley at Under-21 level, this hardly came as a surprise.
Madueke had to wait for his debut but came off the bench for the final 24 minutes against Finland, grabbing an assist for Harry Kane's second goal in a thoroughly impressive cameo.
Nicolas Jackson
Jackson's wait for a first goal for Senegal continues.
He started against both Burkina Faso and Burundi but, despite playing 82 minutes against the former and over an hour against the latter, failed to find the back of the net.
Deivid Washington
After the will he, won't he transfer talk with Strasbourg, Washington made his Brazil Under-20 debut this month.
The teenage striker saw just 11 minutes off the bench in a 2-1 win over Mexico.
Estevao
A bonus here.
Future Blue Estevao made his debut for the Brazil senior side at the tender age of 17, coming off the bench against both Ecuador and Paraguay.
Kendry Paez
On the pitch facing Estevao was another 17-year-old, Kendry Paez, who will also join Chelsea next summer.
The midfielder is already an established international for Ecuador and saw over 100 minutes for his country as he picked up his 13th and 14th caps.
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