Chelsea have been rocked by a spate of injuries ahead of a home game against Leeds that could be pivotal to Graham Potter’s long-term future.
The under-pressure Blues manager will be without Thiago Silva, Mason Mount, Cesar Azpilicueta and potentially Reece James this weekend.
As first revealed by Standard Sport, Silva will be out for six weeks while Mount and James were injured in training this week in the lead-up to Saturday’s match at Stamford Bridge.
Potter revealed that his side will have to overcome the loss of their captain and two frontrunners for the unconfirmed vice-skipper role since Jorginho left for Arsenal in January.
He explained on Friday: “Thiago will be around that time [six weeks], I’m not sure when it will be exactly. Reece has got a tightness in his hamstring, we’re just assessing him, so he’s doubtful for tomorrow as well.
“Mason’s had a problem with his lower abdomen area, the bone, so he’ll miss the game tomorrow. We hope it won’t be too long but tomorrow will be too soon.
“Azpi’s made progress, but he’s still not through the protocols we have to do after a head injury like that.”
N’Golo Kante boosted the squad by returning to training this week and completed a full session for the first time in six months after hamstring surgery.
However, the match against Leeds is thought to come too soon for both the Frenchman and also Christian Pulisic, who similarly stepped up his comeback at Cobham this week.
Mateo Kovacic is back after missing last weekend’s 1-0 defeat by Tottenham, while Edouard Mendy is closing in on his return from finger surgery.
“N’Golo had his first full training session today but obviously still needs time,” Potter added. “Mendy’s making progress but he’s not yet joined full training with the group.”
Striker Armando Broja is likely out for the season after injuring his anterior cruciate ligament in December.
