On the back of another agonising setback, Chelsea take part in this week's marquee Premier League affair, hosting Manchester United at Stamford Bridge on Thursday.
Mauricio Pochettino's charges could not get the better of a 10-man Burnley outfit at the weekend, drawing 2-2 with the relegation-threatened Clarets despite playing the entire second period with an extra player.
Still entrenched in mid-table obscurity, the Blues reside in 11th place in the rankings after Saturday's dismal showing, albeit just four points behind seventh-placed West Ham United with two matches in hand.
Here, Sports Mole rounds up Chelsea's latest injury and suspension news ahead of the contest with the Red Devils, who also took a point home from their clash with Brentford over the weekend.
© Reuters
Status: Minor doubt
Type of injury: Hamstring
Possible return date: April 4 (vs. Man United)
Up-and-coming right-back Malo Gusto had to be replaced in the dying embers of the Burnley stalemate with a hamstring concern, but he has trained this week and is expected to be given the green light to play here.
© Reuters
Status: Out
Type of injury: Thigh
Possible return date: Unknown
Summer midfield signing Romeo Lavia has been a perennial occupier of the treatment room all season long, and due to a setback in his recuperation from a thigh injury, the Belgian will not play again for the rest of the campaign.
© Reuters
Status: Out
Type of injury: Hamstring
Possible return date: Unknown
Another luckless 2023 arrival, Christopher Nkunku, has been sidelined since the beginning of March with his own hamstring issue, and while a comeback in April is not beyond the realm of possibility, no date has been pencilled in yet.
© Reuters
Status: Out
Type of injury: Knee
Possible return date: Unknown
Nkunku's compatriot Wesley Fofana is still on the mend following his latest severe knee injury, and at the start of last month, Pochettino conceded that the defender is unlikely to play again before the campaign concludes.
© Reuters
Status: Out
Type of injury: Hamstring
Possible return date: Unknown
Another injury-riddled defender, Reece James, is no closer to making his comeback from a hamstring injury, but Pochettino is keeping his fingers crossed that he will be available before the end of the campaign.
© Reuters
Status: Out
Type of injury: Hamstring
Possible return date: Unknown
Lesley Ugochukwu is yet to turn out for Chelsea in 2024 owing to a hamstring injury, and he is still undergoing his recuperation programme with no timescale on his return.
© Reuters
Status: Out
Type of issue: Knock
Possible return date: Unknown
Carney Chukwuemeka was initially said to have sustained a "slight knock" on international duty, but he ultimately had to withdraw from England's Under-21s squad and was unavailable for the draw with Burnley as well. Little is known about the midfielder's concern, but he is not expected to appear for the Blues on Thursday.
© Reuters
Status: Out
Type of injury: Toe
Possible return date: Unknown
Levi Colwill is working his way back from a painful toe injury and is still being restricted to his rehabilitation programme, so he will not be at Pochettino's disposal for the Man United visit.
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Status: Out
Type of injury: Unspecified
Possible return date: Unknown
Goalkeeper Robert Sanchez had only just come back from a knee injury and played two FA Cup ties before picking up another unexplained issue, which will render him unavailable this week as well.
© Reuters
Status: Minor doubt
Type of injury: Unspecified
Possible return date: April 4 (vs. Man United)
Likewise, Trevoh Chalobah was added to Pochettino's injury list prior to the draw with Burnley, but the Chelsea boss has confirmed that the defender is on track to return against the Red Devils.
© Reuters
Status: Major doubt
Type of injury: Knee
Possible return date: April 4 (vs. Man United)
Ben Chilwell could not contribute to the draw with Burnley due to a blow to the knee, and Pochettino revealed on Wednesday that he had yet to report for training this week, so a comeback on Thursday is highly unlikely.
CHELSEA'S SUSPENSION LIST
Chelsea have no suspended players for this match.
Ben Knapton
