The latest Chelsea injury news ahead of hosting Manchester City this Sunday as boss Mauricio Pochettino issues an update on the fitness of attacker, Christopher Nkunku.
Premier League champions Manchester City visit Stamford Bridge this weekend in their final game before the November international break. Chelsea will hope they can enter the pause in domestic action on the back of a win having taken four points from the last nine available.
VAR drama and a hat-trick from Nicolas Jackson helped Chelsea win their last match away to Tottenham Hotspur 4-1. But the Blues have lost each of their last six games with Manchester City across all competitions. They have now not beaten Pep Guardiola’s side since May 2021.
Chelsea’s injury list ahead of facing Manchester City
Chelsea’s past win against Manchester City came in the Champions League final via a goal by Kai Havertz. It also followed a 1-0 win at Wembley in the FA Cup semi-final in April plus a 2-1 win at Etihad Stadium in the Premier League in May. They last won at home in June 2020.
A smattering of injury concerns could complicate Chelsea’s bid to beat Manchester City this weekend under Pochettino. The Argentine has met the Citizens more often than any team in his career. He has won six of the 20 games and has won four of 22 games against Guardiola.
Guardiola has stood in the dugout opposite Pochettino more often than any other manager in the Blues’ boss career. He will now hope that Chelsea’s injury concerns do not lead to his 12th defeat against the coach. So, with that in mind, here is Chelsea’s latest injury situation.
Enzo Fernandez injury latest
Cristian Romero produced a few more reckless moments as Chelsea beat his Tottenham side on Monday night. Referee Michael Oliver ultimately sent the centre-half off after his rash foul trying to challenge Enzo Fernandez. VAR John Brooks advised Oliver to show his red card.
Fernandez was able to play on after the foul but Pochettino later withdrew the midfielder on 58 minutes. The 22-year-old suffered a minor sprain later in the game after twisting his right ankle in north London. But Ole reports that Fernandez should be fit to face Manchester City.
Expected return: Manchester City (November 12)
Armando Broja injury latest
Pochettino has been without Armando Broja through injury for Chelsea’s past four matches but could recall the striker against Manchester City. The 22-year-old last featured at Burnley in October. He suffered an irritation of the knee injury that kept Broja absent for 10 months.
Broja returned to fitness in September and also scored against Fulham on the forward’s first start this season. He may now give Pochettino another welcome boost after flourishing with a raft of goals at Cobham. The Albanian has taken part in their training sessions this week.
Expected return: Manchester City (November 12)
Christopher Nkunku injury latest
Pochettino offered an update on the availability of Nkunku ahead of facing Manchester City with the Chelsea boss eager to have the forward back from his injury. The 25-year-old is still yet to record his debut since joining the Blues this July after hurting his knee in pre-season.
Nkunku is also pushing to return from his injury and has marked Chelsea’s trip to Newcastle United as his goal. Yet Pochettino has played down the Frenchman’s optimism for featuring at St James’ Park. The Blues head to Tyneside following the November international break.
“We had some conversations,” Pochettino noted, via quotes by football.london. “He said to me: ‘Coach, I want to be ready for after the international break, Newcastle’.
“I said, ‘You are a liar’, that is the truth. Nah, it’s close. He’s doing really, really, really well. We are so happy with him and how he’s doing his recovery. He is so professional.”
Expected return: Newcastle United (November 25)
Trevoh Chalobah injury latest
Pochettino has still not named Trevoh Chalobah in a competitive Chelsea line-up due to the 24-year-old’s injury problems. He has missed all of the season so far after sustaining a thigh problem. The centre-back also suffered a setback in his recovery from the gripe in October.
Expected return: Newcastle United (November 25)
Romeo Lavia injury latest
Pochettino is hopeful of having Romeo Lavia training with the Chelsea first-team squad over the November international break. The midfielder has now taken to the fields for individual sessions at Cobham. He has been sidelined since joining the Blues due to an ankle problem.
“Lavia is also close,” Pochettino said of his and Nkunku’s injuries ahead of facing Manchester City, via quotes by football.london. “They were training today on the pitch.
“We hope that next week they will be involved with the team and then we will see after. We need to assess them and see when it is possible for them to play with the team.”
Lavia suffered ligament damage during training in September while working to build up his fitness in west London. The Belgian did not join Chelsea from Southampton in a position to feature under Pochettino. But his debut for the Stamford Bridge side could be forthcoming.
Expected return: Newcastle United (November 25)
Carney Chukwuemeka injury latest
Chelsea may hope to welcome Carney Chukwuemeka back into the fold after the November international break. The midfielder has remained sidelined since the second game this term with a knee issue. He suffered the blow against West Ham United and has hit setbacks since.
The 20-year-old did return to Pochettino’s’ team at the start of October against Burnley. But he did not feature at Turf Moor and required further treatment. The Stamford Bridge natives later confirmed that Chukwuemeka was again closing in on his return at the end of October.
Expected return: Newcastle United (November 25)
Ben Chilwell injury latest
According to The Athletic, Chelsea left-back Ben Chilwell could return to action following his knee injury around Christmas. The 26-year-old suffered the blow in September during their Carabao Cup tie with Brighton & Hove Albion. It quickly became clear it was a severe injury.
Expected return: Wolves (December 24)
Wesley Fofana injury latest
Chelsea might be without Wesley Fofana until the 2024/25 season after the centre-back had surgery on his ACL injury. Simon Phillips has reported that the Blues fear the £75m defender will miss the rest of this term. He has not featured yet this season owing to the injury, either.
Expected return: Next season
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