Chelsea have received some positive news regarding the fitness of Robert Sanchez.
The Blues have used Robert Sanchez, 26, as their first-choice goalkeeper throughout the season so far.
However, the Spanish gloveman has missed the last couple of games with a knee problem.
Chelsea head coach Mauricio Pochettino said via The Evening Standard earlier this week that Sanchez is expected to be sidelined through injury for a few weeks. He initially worried that he could miss up to six weeks.
Thankfully, there’s fresh claims today that suggest Sanchez’s issue is not as bad as Pochettino feared.
Chelsea injury boost
Football.London claims that Sanchez is expected to be available again for Chelsea in the next couple of weeks.
If true, the £25million shot-stopper (Sky Sports) may not miss as many games as feared.
Our maths puts him at missing the remaining Premier League fixtures in 2023 against Wolverhampton Wanderers, Crystal Palace and Luton Town.
Let’s see if he’s fit and ready to return on 6 January when the Blues host Preston in the FA Cup third round. Incidentally, Chelsea travel to Middlesbrough a few days later to face Middlesbrough in the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-finals.
Robert Sanchez could return in two weeks
It’s a real positive that Chelsea’s senior goalkeeper will soon make his return from injury. However, we suspect Djordje Petrovic may not quite share the same enthusiasm.
Petrovic, 24, is Chelsea’s back-up goalkeeper that has started back-to-back games since Sanchez’s injury blow.
The Serbian was in-between the sticks during the midweek win over Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup, proving his quality in the penalty shootout to help the Blues progress.
We’d say the jury is still out on Petrovic as the inexperienced goalkeeper gets used to English football.
If he continues to impress in the next few games, we wonder if there’s a real battle on with Sanchez for the number one position.
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