Callum McFarlane has expressed optimism that Joao Pedro will be available for Chelsea's final Premier League match of the season against Sunderland on Sunday. The Brazilian striker missed the midweek victory over Tottenham due to a knock sustained before the match. However, the 15-goal forward has returned to training and is in contention to feature in the squad for the trip to the Stadium of Light.
Training Updates
In his pre-match press conference on Friday, McFarlane confirmed that both Joao Pedro and Levi Colwill participated in training. 'Joao Pedro and Levi Colwill, they both trained today,' he said. 'Still got another day to see, but both promising, both hopeful that they'll be fit for Sunday.' Colwill, who recently recovered from a major knee injury, was rested in midweek but is expected to play some minutes against Sunderland.
Reece James Fitness Management
Club captain Reece James was an unused substitute in the midweek win over Tottenham. McFarlane emphasized a cautious approach with the 26-year-old following his hamstring injury. 'Reece has trained today. We're playing it day by day with Reece. He's fit, he's in good condition. But we just know that we have to manage Reece correctly over the last couple of games,' the interim boss explained. James played significant minutes in the recent final, which McFarlane described as a tough game that took a lot out of the player. The decision not to risk him on Tuesday was based on the belief that the squad had enough depth to secure the result.
League Standings and Stakes
Chelsea currently sit eighth in the Premier League table, needing a win to secure a spot in next season's Conference League. Sunderland, in ninth place, could leapfrog the Blues if they win on Sunday and Brentford drop points against Liverpool. The match promises to be a high-stakes encounter for both sides.
