Chelsea welcome Leicester City to Stamford Bridge on Sunday afternoon (12.45pm) as they aim to book a return ticket to Wembley this season. The Blues were beaten in their Carabao Cup showpiece vs Liverpool – beneath the famous arch – as they now target glory via the FA Cup.
During his pre-match press conference, Mauricio Pochettino confirmed Ben Chilwell (knee) should return to action against his former club. However, there are still numerous absentees for the head coach to contend with – not least Enzo Fernandez through suspension.
After the final whistle, injured Chelsea players will get much-needed recovery time during the international break, with their next Premier League match coming against Burnley on Saturday, March 30 (3pm). Here, we take a closer look at the club’s treatment room – with predicted return dates for nine players.
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Reece James
Injury: Hamstring.
Predicted return date: Next month.
What Pochettino has said: “We were talking and he has started his recovery, one day closer to being with the group. This is really positive and we’re all positive around him, we are going to help. It’s tough for a player with a very complicated and difficult season for him. Now’s the process to start to recover and it’s one day less until he’s part of the group. The most important thing is to start to solve the problem and help him to be strong.”
Benoit Badiashile
Injury: Groin.
Expected return date: March 30 vs Burnley (H).
What Pochettino has said: n/a.
Wesley Fofana
Injury: Knee.
Predicted return date: Next season.
What Pochettino has said: “Fofana maybe needs more time.”
Levi Colwill
Injury: Toes.
Return date: TBC.
What Pochettino has said: “You all know now we added the list of injured players.”
Ben Chilwell
Injury: Knee.
Return date: March 17 vs Leicester City (H).
What Pochettino has said: “Yes already Gareth [Southgate] told you he’s fit. Back to training. I think everything going well. He will be in the squad.”
Romeo Lavia
Injury: Thigh.
Return date: TBC.
What Pochettino has said: “He’s not training with the team. He’s still recovering.”
Enzo Fernandez
Injury: n/a (suspended).
Return date: March 30 vs Burnley (H).
What Pochettino has said: n/a.
Lesley Ugochukwu
Injury: Hamstring.
Return date: TBC.
What Pochettino has said: n/a.
Christopher Nkunku
Injury: Hamstring.
Return date: TBC.
What Pochettino has said: “I think he suffered a problem in his hamstring and we will see in a few weeks if he can be again available. A little bit unlucky, bad luck because to suffer another setback. It’s always tough for a player that didn’t play too much during the season that also came from the Bundesliga with some problems. He was so good in the pre-season. It’s a difficult season for him. It’s difficult to accept another injury and to delay to play more.”
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