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Chelsea forward João Pedro has pulled out of the Brazil squad ahead of the upcoming international window, potentially creating a significant headache for Blues head coach Xabi Alonso.
While Chelsea have been leaking goals at a worrying rate during the opening weeks of Alonso's reign, their offensive firepower has been breathtaking, with Pedro, Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers combining in near-flawless fashion.
That momentum could be set for a sudden halt as Brazil confirmed Pedro's exit from the national squad due to an undisclosed injury.
Chelsea return to action on Friday, facing a Brentford side sitting just a single point and one position below them in the Premier League table, and Alonso may be forced to navigate the cross-London fixture without one of his sharpest performers.
How Chelsea Can Replace Injured Pedro
Chelsea certainly possess the depth to cover for Pedro's absence without too much difficulty, though whether a replacement striker can match his level of output is an entirely different matter.
Pedro has contributed three goals and three assists in just four Premier League outings under Alonso, forming a seamless partnership with Rogers and Palmer in a dynamic front three that fans are still searching for the perfect nickname to capture their electrifying early-season form.
Should Pedro be ruled out against Brentford, experienced striker Danny Welbeck appears to be the most likely candidate to step into the starting eleven. The 35-year-old has featured mainly in cup competitions but has already netted three goals across just two Carabao Cup appearances.
The challenge facing Alonso is recreating the chemistry Pedro shares with Palmer and Rogers when a different striker leads the line. While Welbeck has shown flashes of quality in combination play, the veteran lacks the natural movement and creativity that Pedro brings, being 11 years younger.
Finding a viable bench option beyond Welbeck could prove to be Alonso's trickiest puzzle. Dutch forward Emmanuel Emegha completed his transfer from Strasbourg over the summer but has yet to feature as he continues to recover from a hamstring problem.
Emegha is thought to be closing in on his return, though Alonso may opt to manage the 23-year-old carefully until after the international break has passed.
With Emegha still sidelined, Alonso may need to think outside the box. Palmer or Rogers could be deployed as a false nine, with similar roles potentially asked of Estêvão or Pedro Neto, even though the latter has been thriving as a wing-back this campaign.
Regardless of who earns the starting spot, Alonso will need his side to sustain their impressive attacking momentum, fully aware that Chelsea cannot afford to depend on their backline to secure results this season.