Chelsea now optimistic £35m player will be back in two weeks

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Chelsea hope to have central defender Benoit Badiashile available again in two weeks’ time.

According to the Daily Mail, Chelsea are optimistic that Benoit Badiashile will be ready to make a return to action in around a fortnight.

The 22-year-old has not played since May because of a hamstring injury, but his absence has not left Mauricio Pochettino completely light in central defence.

The Argentine still has Thiago Silva, Levi Colwill and Axel Disasi at his disposal.

With Wesley Fofana and Trevoh Chalobah also sidelined, though, Chelsea probably cannot afford another injury in the centre-back position.

Benoit Badiashile’s return will be a boost

Chelsea have so many injuries right now, so Badiashile closing in on a return to first-team action is certainly good news.

The Frenchman, who the Blues signed from AS Monaco in a £35m deal, looked really good at times last season.

During the 2022/23 Premier League campaign, Badiashile won 3.2 aerial duels per game, which was the highest average in Chelsea’s squad (WhoScored).

The player who Chelsea fans will be desperate to see return, though, is Badiashile’s France team-mate Christopher Nkunku.

Pochettino’s side have struggled in front of goal this term, failing to score in their recent 0-0 draw with Bournemouth, and could really do with a forward of Nkunku’s ability right now.

Still, the absences of Nkunku, Badiashile and everyone else cannot be used an excuse for Chelsea being 14th in the table. Yes, it is early days, but they are giving themselves so much work to do in the race for top four, a race you just cannot see them having any success in at this moment in time.