Pedro was taken off in the first half of today’s win over Burnley with what looked worryingly like a recurrence of the shoulder problem that has been keeping him out recently.
As he trudged off to be replaced by Ruben Loftus-Cheek, the Spaniard removed his shirt to reveal the kind of protective brace he was wearing on the damaged limb.
It’s kept him out of the team for a few weeks now, and it looks like the problem will continue. Willian has been a capable deputy, but he’s now playing 90 minutes every game.
Could this be the moment that Callum Hudson-Odoi gets his chance to start? Against Derby in the cup at least.
In this game it was Ruben Loftus-Cheek who stepped up and took the winger’s place, in a slight tweak of system. Could RLC’s big break be replacing a winger rather than a midfielder in Maurizio Sarri’s team going forward?
