For the first time in a number of months, Graham Potter looks to no longer have more than 10 players on the injury list with Reece James, Ben Chilwell and Raheem Sterling all making their returns last week. James was deemed fit enough to start against Fulham, while Chilwell and Sterling returned to action with cameos from the bench.
The Blues remain without Armando Broja, N’Golo Kante, Denis Zakaria, Edouard Mendy, Christian Pulisic and Wesley Fofana, but the latter looks set to be the next player to make a matchday squad return with the Frenchman now back training on the grass.
Following their goalless draw with Fulham, another London derby awaits with Chelsea set to travel to the London Stadium to take on West Ham, who are also suffering from a number of injuries to key players.
With that said, we have taken a look at the latest injury news from Stamford Bridge ahead of Potter doing battle with David Moyes on Saturday.
Mykhailo Mudryk
Mudryk was brought off at half-time in the Blues’ clash with Fulham. At first, the decision to replace the winger appeared to be tactical but Potter later confirmed otherwise.
The 22-year-old posted an Instagram story on Monday of what looks to be the grass pitches at Cobham which could indicate he is back to 100 per cent and training again.
What Potter has said: “He’s had a heavy cold this week and he was just feeling heavy-legged at half time and we didn’t want to take a chance. He’s still in the process where we’re building up his minutes after the break he was on in Ukraine. So that was our decision there.”
Expected return date: West Ham (A) – February 11
Reece James
James was named in the starting line-up against Fulham and he was brought off at the hour mark. The Blues will be looking to ease the right-back back in the frame amid worries that he could trigger another injury.
What Potter said: “Ben Chilwell, Reece James, Raheem Sterling, and Ruben [Loftus-Cheek] are back in the squad, not ready for 90 minutes but in the squad.”
Injury: Knee
Expected return date: West Ham (A) – February 11
Ben Chilwell
Cucurella was preferred to Chilwell against Fulham but the Englishman made his return from injury as a substitute late into the second-half.
What Potter said: “Ben Chilwell, Reece James, Raheem Sterling, and Ruben [Loftus-Cheek] are back in the squad, not ready for 90 minutes but in the squad.”
Injury: Thigh
Expected return date: West Ham (A) – February 11
Raheem Sterling
Potter also welcomed back Sterling to his squad and the former Man City man got his first taste of minutes in over a month as he came on against Fulham in the second-half.
What Potter said: “Ben Chilwell, Reece James, Raheem Sterling, and Ruben [Loftus-Cheek] are back in the squad, not ready for 90 minutes but in the squad.”
Injury: Hamstring
Expected return date: West Ham (A) – February 11
Christian Pulisic
Pulisic has issued a two-word hint on his Chelsea return date as he continues to nurse a knee injury. The 24-year-old came off second best in a collision with John Stones when the Blues locked horns with Manchester City in the Premier League earlier last month.
The winger has posted an image on himself from when he limped off the pitch against City. Pulisic simply captioned his post: “Back soon.”
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What Potter said: “No chance, no, he will be out past that [January transfer deadline] and there was never any consideration about him leaving anyway. He is a couple of months out.
“He is disappointed but he is optimistic about coming back quicker than two months. He is in that phase where he is keeping his fingers crossed and hoping his rehab goes well.”
Injury: Knee
Expected return date: March
N’Golo Kante
Kante has suffered an injury-ridden campaign thus far but the midfielder has finally returned to the pitches at Cobham, albeit training alone. The Frenchman is getting closer to full fitness but, until he joins the first-team group, a debut under Potter is left to be desired.
What Potter said: “N’Golo did his first couple of days out training on his own but there is still a long, long way to go.”
Injury: Hamstring
Expected return date: Early March
Wesley Fofana
Having missed most of the season so far, former Leicester man Wesley Fofana’s influence at the back has been somewhat felt in his absence. However, in a huge boost to the Blues and the defender himself, it appears as though a return is just around the corner, having been pictured in training again.
He was not named in the squad to face Fulham. However, the Frenchman has seemingly now joined full first-team training after judging by his latest Instagram story.
What Potter said: “Wesley [Fofana] has been part training partly with the team and he will be stepping it up next week.”
Injury: Knee
Expected return date: West Ham (A) – February 11
Denis Zakaria
The Chelsea loanee has impressed, forcing his way into the first-team after a slow start to his career at Stamford Bridge. However, in a huge blow to the side, he was forced off after 56 minutes in the defeat to Fulham last month.
What Potter said: “Denis is going to be probably four weeks. It’s the top of his quad and that is a blow for us. Hopefully, he can return sooner.”
Injury: Thigh
Expected return date: February
Edouard Mendy
Chelsea confirmed that Mendy had undergone an operation on a fractured finger sustained during training, meaning he will be absent from the squad in the coming games. The Senegalese shot-stopper was not in the squad to face Fulham.
Injury: Finger
Expected return date: Unknown
Armando Broja
Chelsea are set to be without Broja for sometime after the striker suffered a knee injury in a mid-season friendly against Aston Villa. The 20-year-old screamed in pain following a collision with Ezri Konsa and he was subsequently stretchered off the field of play.
He looked to be in considerable pain and was seen to be clutching his leg as he was tended to by medical staff. The Albania international had no history of knee injuries and his injury is a major blow with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang out of form.
Broja is expected to be out for at least the remainder of the season after learning that he needs surgery to fix a ruptured cruciate ligament in his right knee, football.london understands. He could be out of action for a minimum of five months and a maximum of 12.
What Potter said: ”It was just an unfortunate action. He got caught up with their player and the ground. It doesn’t look positive at the moment but it’s too early to say. Fingers crossed but it is an awkward one.”
Injury: Knee
Expected return date: Summer/Autumn 2023
