Kalidou Koulibaly trained with strapping on his left leg ahead of the mighty Premier League meeting between Chelsea and Newcastle United.
The club cameras (5.50) captured the defender running out for training with tape tightened around his leg.
Koulibaly strapped up
Trips to the treatment room have generally toppled the centre-back’s Chelsea career so far.
Koulibaly has been recovering from an injury that forced him out for several weeks between the middle of October and the start of November.
He returned against Dinamo Zagreb earlier in the month, but was made to retire early from the Stamford Bridge pitch due to a problem with his knee.
The 31-year-old recovered in time for the Carabao Cup trip away to Manchester City in mid-week, yet failed to prevent the 2-0 loss.
Graham Potter will be hoping to have the £33m Senegal international available again for this evening’s tough trip to Newcastle.
Newcastle no pushovers
Eddie Howie’s side are defying the odds by seriously challenging for the Champions League positions, leaving the likes of Chelsea in their wake.
Potter really cannot afford any more slip ups in the race for European qualification.
Back-to-back league defeats have left the Blues peering up rather than down the table.
A win at Saint James’ Park will certainly lift the mood at Cobham ahead of the World Cup interlude.
But securing three points is one of the most difficult challenges right now when Newcastle are in town.
A test made trickier for Chelsea due to their long list of wounded soldiers.
Reece James, Wesley Fofana, Ben Chilwell, Kepa Arrizabalaga and N’Golo Kante will miss the trip up north.
Potter may have to tread carefully with the likes of Koulibaly and Mateo Kovacic, both have carried issues for some time.
But the Blues boss will be boasted by the return of Jorginho, who missed the mid-week defeat in Manchester.