Four Chelsea players, including Thiago Silva and Reece James, have been given the all-clear to start against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, according to the Evening Standard.
Blues manager Graham Potter left both Silva and James out of the squad in last weekend’s defeat to Southampton.
The decision was heavily criticised, which is hardly a surprise given the disappointing result.
However, The Telegraph later claimed that Poter was warned that these two, alongside Raheem Sterling, Mykhailo Mudryk, and Kai Havertz, were at risk of serious injuries if they had started against the Saints.
The good news is that Silva, James, Mudryk, and Sterling, have all been given the clear to return to the starting line-up, the Evening Standard claims.
Havertz, who featured as a substitute in the second half last Saturday, is likely fine, too.
This means Chelsea will be close to full strength ahead of the London derby.
The likely returns of Silva and James, whom Paul Merson considers to be Chelsea’s best players this season, in particular, will be key.
Cesar Azpilicueta, N’Golo Kante, Edouard Mendy, and Armando Broja are the only ones expected to be absent.
Azpilicueta suffered a concussion in the last game, for which he had to be stretchered off the pitch. Fortunately, the captain has already begun his recovery at Cobham after being discharged from hospital.
Kante, on the other hand, is close to a return after previously undergoing hamstring surgery. The France international took part in the warm-ups in Tuesday’s training but is not expected to play until March.
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