The Pride of London roundup the latest Chelsea injury news, including these updates: Christian Pulisic, Raheem Sterling, Aubameyang, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Ben Chilwell, Reece James and N’Golo Kante.
Clearly injuries have negatively impacted the more recent and worrying run of Graham Potter’s tenure at Stamford Bridge. How drastically fitness problems have affected the team, we just don’t know. But could you imagine Blues progress if trio Wesley Fofana, James and Kante were fit and firing on all cylinders?!
The difference in quality exhibited, along with results, could have been as different as night and day if Potter had a full squad to choose from. Should Joao Felix’s introduction be favourable and unavailable personnel return as soon as possible, we could be looking at a side be reckoned with all of a sudden.
That scenario is not wishful thinking, the talent is there for top four pressure. Yet, unfortunately the feat of Champions League qualification is very likely too far a reach after such a poor mid-season unravelled. Potter must muster the troops and directness to be victorious against Fulham on Thursday, otherwise he’s surely in trouble.
On to injury news now ahead of the London derby, because we’ve had an update from the press conference. Felix is awaiting a decision on his availability, incidentally. But the head coach did confirm that Aubameyang is ready once again. Although Pulisic is out for up to two months, which is a shame because he was finally getting minutes.
Meanwhile, Sterling won’t feature at Craven Cottage; some positive details emerged as Chilwell and Loftus-Cheek will soon make comebacks. And finally, James and Kante are back training alone, respectively.
The team this writer expects Potter to pick is featured underneath this paragraph after the link. However, the former Brighton & Hove Albion boss is a tough man to second guess, but here goes:
Kepa Arrizabalaga; Marc Cucurella, Trevoh Chalobah, Thiago Silva, Cesar Azpilicueta; Denis Zakaria, Mateo Kovacic; Mason Mount; Hakim Ziyech, Kai Havertz; Aubameyang.