Chelsea are back in Premier League action this evening against fierce rivals Tottenham at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The Blues will be looking to become the first team to defeat Ange Postecoglou’s side this season.
Spurs have won eight of their first 10 games and will return to the top of the table with victory over Mauricio Pochettino’s side. However, Chelsea aren’t expected to roll over against their London rivals.
Pochettino has a number of injury concerns to consider upon his return to north London. With a number of long-term absentees, the Blues will be without some key players.
So with that said, here’s a look at the latest Chelsea injury news and possible return dates ahead of the huge game with Tottenham on Monday.
Mykhailo Mudryk
Mudryk was absent from the matchday squad to face Brentford over last weekend. The 22-year-old winger is currently nursing a minor knock and Pochettino will be desperate to reintegrate him into the starting lineup to play Tottenham on Monday evening.
While the winger didn’t feature in the squad that beat Blackburn in midweek, it was later confirmed by the club that he was back in full training on Friday.
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Possible return date: Tottenham (A) Monday, November 6
Cole Palmer
Cole Palmer was spotted hobbling in the second half of the Carabao Cup win over Blackburn. The 21-year-old was on the field until the 86th minute by which stage he looked to have overcome a kick to the ankle that saw him moving gingerly and trying not to put too much pressure on his foot.
The young forward wasn’t seen on the injury list put out by the club on Friday and there wasn’t an update from Pochettino, suggesting he will be fit to feature on Monday.
Possible return date: Tottenham (A) Monday, November 6
Christopher Nkunku
Nkunku is still yet to play a competitive game for Chelsea following his transfer from RB Leipzig in the summer. The 25-year-old was dealt a major blow to his knee during a pre-season friendly against Borussia Dortmund.
He has taken his recovery programme to the next level – for the very first time since the summer, Nkunku was spotted outside on the training pitches at Cobham in his Chelsea gear. Now, Pochettino has hinted that the France international could return to action after the November international break.
Possible return date: Newcastle United (A) – Saturday, November 25
Armando Broja
Broja was omitted from the matchday squad to face Arsenal last month. He is currently being assessed for an irritation on his knee and it’s unclear when he will return,.
What Pochettino said: “Broja wasn’t available and to decide to play with Nico after the surgery on his wrist, it was to find a different way to play in our principles but I think to change the strategy to attack.”
Possible return date: Tottenham (A) Monday, November 6
Romeo Lavia
According to the Mail, Lavia is expected to remain out of action until late November despite having taken promising steps towards a full recovery. The report states that the Belgian was able to take off his protective boot last week and he’s since begun his rehabilitation programme at Cobham training ground.
The Mail adds that a return in November is viewed as ‘optimistic’. It’s believed that the west Londoners are cautious of rushing him back ahead of schedule, meaning that Lavia may not return until early December.
What Pochettino said: “I cannot tell you [when he will be back] but he is still not running. After the international break he will not be back.”
Possible return date: Late November to early December
Trevoh Chalobah
Chelsea issued an official statement confirming that Chalobah picked up a knock ahead of the clash against Arsenal. The defender has been nursing a thigh injury this season.
Possible return date: November
Carney Chukwuemeka
Chelsea issued an official statement confirming that Carney Chukwuemeka had picked up a knock ahead of the meeting with Arsenal. He had made the bench against Burnley but has since hit another setback and is yet to play again this season.
The teenager has struggled with a knee problem despite only recently returning to full first-team training at Cobham. It is not certain how long he will be out for.
Possible return date: Unknown
Ben Chilwell
Chilwell suffered a knock towards the end of Chelsea’s clash with Brighton in the Carabao Cup at the end of September. Unfortunately for the Blues defender, the club quickly realised that the muscle issue was worse than first thought and, a month later, he’s still out of action.
What Pochettino said: “I can not tell you [when he will be back]. It is difficult to know. He is away from the training ground now and we will wait for him to come back to see the situation. Hopefully, he can recover as soon as possible.”
Possible return date: December
Wesley Fofana
Fofana is set to miss most of the season after rupturing his ACL in pre-season training ahead of the tour of America.
Possible return date: April 2024
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Olivia Martin is a dedicated sports journalist based in the UK. With a passion for various athletic disciplines, she covers everything from major league championships to local sports events, delivering up-to-the-minute updates and in-depth analysis.
