Chelsea will be hoping to be strengthened by returning stars after the international break.
N’Golo Kante was named in the Chelsea squad against Everton on the weekend and is set to feature in a friendly the club are planning, while the likes of Mason Mount, Raheem Sterling and Edouard Mendy could all soon be back in the first-team picture.
There are concerns at the back for the Blues though, with Wesley Fofana picking up a hamstring injury, and Cesar Azpilicueta and Thiago Silva both still out.
Here is your latest update of Chelsea injuries and return dates...
Mason Mount
Mount has missed the last three Chelsea games with a pubic bone injury, which will also keep him out of England duty. The midfielder was still initially called up by Gareth Southgate, which surprised Graham Potter.
“He’s never been available as far as I’m aware,” the Chelsea boss said. “He needed a bit of time for his injury to settle down, which pretty much ruled him out of the England thing.”
With another two weeks of recovery coming up, Mount is likely to be available for Chelsea after the international break when they host Aston Villa on April 1.
Wesley Fofana
Fofana has withdrawn from the France squad for upcoming Euro 2024 qualifiers after being forced off late on against Everton.
“Wes Fofana had to come off with fatigue, as he has had a long time out,” Potter explained. “He was feeling his hamstring.”
It remains to be seen how serious the hamstring injury is, with Fofana now in a race to be fit for Chelsea’s first match back after the break.
Thiago Silva
Silva has been out since suffering knee ligament damage against Tottenham at the end of March, with it reported at the time he would face a six-week spell on the sidelines.
No further official update has been given recently, though the centre-back could make his return in time to face Real Madrid in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final on April 12.
Raheem Sterling
Like Mount, Sterling will also not be involved for England during the international break. The forward has been out since the Champions League win over Borussia Dortmund with a hamstring injury.
Potter has given a relatively positive update though, with Sterling potentially in line to return against Villa.
“Raheem has a problem with his hamstring,” Potter said last week. “It’s not too serious but he’ll miss the [match against Everton] and the international trip.”
N’Golo Kante
Kante was named in the squad against Everton, though did not make his comeback from injury. The Frenchman though is now fit and ready to play his part in the final two months of the season, and will feature in a friendly during the international break.
“N’Golo’s due to carry on training Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday with potentially a game to give him some minutes,” Potter said. “We’re still planning [who the friendly will be against] but I think it will probably be internal. That will be good.”
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Aubameyang was in Spain over the weekend, celebrating in the Barcelona dressing room with his former team-mates after their Clasico win over Real Madrid.
The forward has had a back injury recently, however Potter confirmed after Chelsea’s draw with Everton that Aubameyang was now fully fit, but was not selected for the squad.
Edouard Mendy
Having not played since the World Cup, due to surgery on a fractured finger sustained in training, Mendy is finally nearing a return to first-team action.
The goalkeeper took part in full team training last week and is set to be back in the Chelsea squad after the international break, though it remains to be seen whether he is able to replace Kepa Arrizabalaga as first-choice.
Cesar Azpilicueta
Azpilicueta was once again absent from the Chelsea squad over the weekend. The defender has been out of action since the defeat to Southampton, when he suffered concussion and spent three days in hospital.
However, speaking after the match against Everton, Potter suggested it was another issue that was now keeping Azpilicueta out of the side.
“Azpilicueta had a knock in training, he’s had a problem there,” the Chelsea boss said.
Armando Broja
Broja will play no further part this season, as he continues his recovery from a serious knee injury.
The anterior cruciate ligament rupture required surgery, ruling Broja out for the rest of the campaign and his focus will on getting fit in time for the start of next seson.
