Chelsea return to Premier League action, 23 days after they played their latest and what turned out to be Graham Potter's first game in charge against RB Salzburg in the UEFA Champions League.
Potter's first few weeks since taking over from Thomas Tuchel have been nicer to him and his coaching team than expected. Following the death of the late Queen Elizabeth II, games against Fulham and Liverpool were cancelled as a consequence.
This inadvertently coupled with the international break allowed the new manager more time on the training ground to get his players up to speed with his ideas and system.
His first challenge is now Patrick Vieira's Crystal Palace, an opponent he never managed to get the better of during his Brighton days, and despite the gruelling weeks ahead with many fixtures in different competitions on the horizon, Potter is looking forward to this frenzy ahead of the FIFA World Cup break in November.
READ MORE: Graham Potter handed quadruple Chelsea blow as N'Golo Kante ruled out of Crystal Palace clash
"Probably a bit of both if I'm honest," he responded when asked about the 23-day gap between the last game. "Used the time to get to know people in an environment without games but at the same time, we're itching to go, itching to play.
"That's really where you find out about everything and you learn a lot and make an impression. Couldn't really control anything in terms of how things have panned out with the cancellations. The international break is what it is, then we just have to make the most of it."
He then added on the upcoming run of games with AC Milan following the London derby next Wednesday: "It's a challenge. We'd all like an ideal world but this is not an ideal world and I'm certainly not going to complain about that.
"It's what I have to deal with and what we have to work with. We have to be smart with how we work, smart with how we use our time. In a world with lots of challenges, I don't think they want to hear me complaining about less time on the pitch.
"We've got six weeks, 13 matches and quickly it's understanding all the players and using them in the right way. Winning football matches in the toughest league in the world with Champions League as well. That's going to be the challenge in the short term that I'm thinking about."
With this all taken into account, football.london previews all the latest injury news ahead of today's 3 PM kick-off.
N'Golo Kante
One man who won't be making the team sheet come 2 PM this weekend is the Frenchman.
He's been nursing a hamstring issue ever since the Tottenham draw in August and has been slowly working his way back to the point where he trained on Friday with the rest of the team.
But with such a tight fixture schedule, Potter was in no mood to take any risks.
What has been said: No they're not. They're absolutely fine in terms of coming through their rehab stages. NG has just been on the grass with the team but not full training.
Expected return date: N/A
Edouard Mendy
The Senegalese injured his knee in the build-up to Tuchel's final game in charge which came in the Champions League against Dinamo Zagreb.
Since then, Kepa Arrizabalaga has been given the chance and started in Potter's first game which was the 1-1 RB Salzburg draw. The Spaniard will be between the sticks most likely at Selhurst Park. If not, it will be Marcus Bettinelli.
Eddie is a bit further on but hasn't had enough to be involved at the weekend really. Maybe next week for him.
What has been said: "Eddie is a bit further on but hasn't had enough to be involved at the weekend really. Maybe next week for him."
Expected return date: AC Milan (H), Wednesday, October 5.
Marc Cucurella and Carney Chukwuemeka
Both players were fit and fine before the international break but illnesses have meant that neither will be in the squad for Crystal Palace.
Its news which will present the likes of Ben Chilwell, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Conor Gallagher a big chance to stake a claim.
What has been said: "A bit of illness for Marc Cucurella and Carney, apart from that everybody is fit."
Expected return dates: AC Milan (H), Wednesday, October 5.
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