Chelsea have received a positive development before their upcoming match against Tottenham on the weekend. The game will take place on Sunday afternoon at N17, and Graham Potter hopes it will help revive his team’s performance this season.
Chelsea, who have not won in their last five matches in all competitions, are currently ranked tenth in the Premier League, trailing fourth-placed Tottenham by eleven points. Denis Zakaria and Mateo Kovacic, who have both recovered from their injuries, are likely to play some part in the game.
Thiago Silva and Reece James are also expected to play in the upcoming match, after being rested in Chelsea’s 1-0 loss to Southampton. However, N’Golo Kante will not be able to play as he has recently returned to training and is not yet ready for the Spurs game.
In summary, SportsDias has provided an update on Chelsea’s injury news prior to the highly anticipated London derby against Tottenham.
N’Golo Kante’s contract with Chelsea will expire in the summer and he has not played under Graham Potter yet due to a hamstring injury he sustained against Tottenham back in August. However, football.london reports that Kante has been training lightly with the rest of the Chelsea squad at Cobham in order to regain his match fitness.
According to reports, the 31-year-old is aiming to make a comeback to the first-team in March.
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: March
Cesar Azpilicueta
Despite suffering an injury blow against Southampton, Cesar Azpilicueta appears to be in a positive mood.
On Sunday afternoon, the Spanish defender shared an update on social media, accompanied by a big grin.
Later on, the club issued a statement confirming that the captain had been released from hospital after sustaining a concussion during the game against Southampton, and was recuperating well at Cobham.
“The club’s medical team are closely monitoring César’s condition, adhering to the important concussion protocols in place to ensure his safety. César observed training today, before he starts working towards returning to the pitch.”
Injury: Concussion
Expected return date: Late February/Early March
Thiago Silva
Thiago Silva, who had played every minute of Chelsea’s defence since their defeat to Newcastle in November, was left out of the matchday squad for their Premier League game against Southampton.
According to a report from The Telegraph, Chelsea’s medical team advised manager Graham Potter that Reece James, Thiago Silva, Kai Havertz, Mykhailo Mudryk, and Raheem Sterling would all be at risk of serious injury if they started against Southampton.
However, Silva is expected to be available for Chelsea’s upcoming match against Tottenham, and the Brazilian is preparing for the game on his own terms. He posted on his Instagram story that he spent his day off from training working out in the gym.
What Potter has said: “No injuries. More just the turnaround and demand of the games considering a few of them had injuries previously. It was a case of managing the load and managing the squad.”
Expected return date: Tottenham (A) February 26.
Christian Pulisic
Earlier this month, Pulisic hinted at his return date to Chelsea with just two words, as he is still recovering from a knee injury he sustained during a match against Manchester City last month.
In a recent post, the 24-year-old shared an image of himself limping off the pitch after the collision with John Stones and captioned it with the words “Back soon.”
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
Edouard Mendy
At the beginning of January, Chelsea announced that Mendy had to undergo a surgical procedure on a finger that he fractured while training. Consequently, he is currently not available to play for the team and is expected to be absent for a considerable amount of time.
The Senegalese goalkeeper was initially projected to be out for six weeks or more, and he has not yet made a comeback.
Injury: Finger
Expected return date: Unknown
Armando Broja
Chelsea’s striker Broja will not be available for the team until the summer months due to a knee injury he sustained during a mid-season friendly game against Aston Villa.
The 20-year-old appeared to be in significant pain after colliding with Ezri Konsa and was taken off the field on a stretcher while clutching his leg.
This was his first knee injury, and his absence is a significant setback for the team, especially with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang out of favour at the moment.
Football.london has reported that Broja will require surgery to repair a ruptured cruciate ligament in his right knee, and he is expected to miss the remainder of the season as a result.
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
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