Chelsea's attacking struggles without João Pedro have raised questions about Xabi Alonso's striker options following Sunday's 1-0 Premier League defeat to Sunderland.
The Brazilian has been sidelined by a thigh injury since late October, leaving Alonso to experiment with alternative attacking combinations.
Despite having Danny Welbeck and Emmanuel Emegha available, Chelsea started Pedro Neto in a central attacking role at the Stadium of Light.
Chelsea struggle to replace injured João Pedro
João Pedro has been one of Chelsea's most productive players this season, contributing five goals and three assists in his first seven appearances.
However, he suffered a thigh injury in training before the defeat against Tottenham, with Chelsea confirming he would miss several weeks.
Against Sunderland, the Blues dominated possession but struggled to create clear opportunities.
Alonso acknowledged the Brazilian's importance after the match.
"For sure we miss him," the Chelsea manager said.
"Now we need to use the time to recover them, but with the players we have we need to get ready for the next one."
Chelsea have also won without João Pedro, beating Manchester United 2-0 in their previous league fixture.
Danny Welbeck and Emmanuel Emegha await opportunities
Alonso's selection decisions have attracted attention because Chelsea have two recognised centre-forwards available.
Welbeck replaced Neto in the 62nd minute against Sunderland, while Emegha was introduced in the closing stages.
Emegha's opportunities have been limited by injury, although Alonso previously praised the striker's qualities following his return to the squad.
The question now is whether either forward can provide a more consistent attacking presence while João Pedro remains unavailable.
Xabi Alonso faces important attacking decision
Chelsea's inability to score against Sunderland exposed a lack of creativity and cutting edge in the final third.
Alonso admitted afterwards that his players had not done enough to deserve victory.
With Champions League qualification a priority, finding a reliable attacking solution remains important regardless of João Pedro's recovery.
Key Points
- João Pedro remains sidelined with a thigh injury.
- Chelsea lost 1-0 to Sunderland.
- Welbeck and Emegha were both used as substitutes.
- Alonso must decide how best to replace his injured striker.
What's Next?
Chelsea host Leeds United on 21 November after the international break, when Alonso hopes to have a clearer picture of João Pedro's recovery.
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