Chelsea have re-hired doctor Chris Hughes in a bid to help improve the club’s woeful injury record alongside new head coach Mauricio Pochettino.
Hughes has been appointed as head of academy medical and becomes the first-team doctor, giving him oversight of the medical department.
He returns to Chelsea after working at the club between September 2012 and January 2017. Hughes then left in 2017 to work with Pochettino at Tottenham.
Hughes and Pochettino have reunited to address Chelsea’s dismal injury record, which undermined their efforts last season as they finished 12th.
Chelsea suffered 48 injuries last season, more than any other Premier League club.
The medical, physiotherapy and fitness departments underwent a radical overhaul during the season after a review was conducted by private firm Remedy in September.
More than 50 per cent of Roman Abramovich-era staff left the club, including medical director Paco Biosca.
There was a feeling of disarray inside Cobham, which led to complaints about Chelsea's injury record, with both Reece James and Wesley Fofana suffering setbacks when attempting to return to play in December.
Graham Potter and Frank Lampard publicly complained that injuries and lack of fitness in the squads were a factor behind the underperformance last season.
