Chelsea's UEFA Champions League campaign resumes tomorrow afternoon when they take on German giants Borussia Dortmund.
A poor run of form in the Premier League has seen Graham Potter's side win only one game in their previous eight, leaving them with a mountain to climb in their ambitions of finishing in the top four. The Blues sit 10 points behind Newcastle United with 16 games remaining meaning their only realistic method of competing in the competition next season begins this week.
Despite their uninspiring results, Chelsea come into the two-legged tie with Dortmund as favourites. After Todd Boehly's £300million January spend, the west Londoners have more than enough to overcome the Black and Yellows.
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Mykhailo Mudryk, Enzo Fernandez and Joao Felix were the three January arrivals selected to be part of the Blues' 25-man squad, leaving Noni Madueke and Benoit Badiashile omitted. There has also been the much-welcomed returns of Ben Chilwell and Reece James in recent weeks, handing Potter a strong crop to choose from.
Ahead of the trip to the Signal Iduna Park, football.london takes a look at the latest on the injured players and when they may return.
Goalkeeper
Potter has made minor changes to the goalkeeper position since he arrived. Kepa Arrizabalaga has missed only four games since the Englishman arrived in September, keeping nine clean sheets in 20.
The Spaniard is expected to see out the remainder of the season inbetween the sticks after Edouard Mendy was forced to undergo an operation on a fractured finger. Marcus Bettinelli has been Kepa's understudy on Potter's bench in recent weeks but isn't expected to add to his single Chelsea appearance.
Defence
Badiashile's exclusion from the Champions League squad means a spot in Potter's defence requires filling. Wesley Fofana has stepped up his participation in training in recent weeks after missing most of the season, but a start against Dortmund may come too soon for the Frenchman.
Kalidou Koulibaly, who missed the trip to West Ham with illness, is the likely candidate to partner Thiago Silva after being pictured in training. The former Napoli man has struggled to adapt to the Premier League but has mass experience playing in Europe across his career.
Marc Cucurella's continued difficulties on and off the field opens the door for a first start for Ben Chilwell since November at left-back. The England international has made short cameo appearances in the previous two fixtures but could continue his return in Germany.
To complete the defence, James' return at right-back has handed Potter a major boost. The Cobham academy graduate lasted the full 90 minutes at the weekend and faces minimal competition in the position until Malo Gusto arrives in the summer.
Midfield
Before the January window closed, Chelsea's midfield woes were worrying. But Enzo Fernandez's record transfer from Benfica has provided the quality that has been lacking in N'Golo Kante and Mateo Kovacic's absences.
The Argentine has been shoehorned straight into the Blues starting line-up since moving to the Premier League and registered his first assist for Joao Felix against West Ham. The question Potter faces in the middle of the park is who to partner Fernandez well.
Kovacic has missed the last few games with a calf problem, despite training with his teammates. Should the Croatian be fit enough to play, he could replace Ruben Loftus-Cheek.
However, there will be no Kante or Denis Zakaria. Kante is yet to make his debut under Potter after suffering an injury-ridden campaign. football.london understands that the Frenchman has been doing individual work but is yet to train with the rest of the team.
Zakaria, who is on loan from Juventus, suffered an unfortunate injury in the defeat to Fulham last month after forcing his way into the first-team. Potter claimed the Swiss midfielder would be sidelined for four weeks, Thursday will mark five weeks since his injury and he's yet to be named in a matchday squad.
Forward
Arguably Chelsea's most dangerous area, Potter will be forced into at least one change in attack. Due to UEFA rules permitting only three new signings in the 25-man squad list, Noni Madueke is not available to take up the right winger role.
In his place, it's likely to be either Mason Mount or Hakim Ziyech. Mount has struggled to replicate his form of previous years recently and was dropped by Potter whilst Ziyech's loan move to PSG on deadline day hasn't hindered his role.
Neither made a difference at the London Stadium when they came on, but the selection of Ziyech will supply the Blues with a left-footed option off the right as Maduke does.
Mudryk and Felix are expected to make up the front four alongside Kai Havertz. Minus the five mentioned, the options in the final third are very limited. Raheem Sterling suffered another setback last week with a knock in training despite only returning to action recently whilst USMNT star Christian Pulisic isn't expected to return until March.
The winger came off worse in a collision with John Stones in January and has been out since, with Potter insisting the 24-year-old was "optimistic" about returning in two months.
David Datro Fofana and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang are unavailable for selection whilst Armando Broja remains out. The 20-year-old suffered a knee injury in a mid-season friendly with Aston Villa and could be out of action for a minimum of five months and a maximum of 12.
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