Reece James misses out but Pedro Neto is passed fit for Chelsea’s trip to Wolves in the Premier League this afternoon.
Both players were absent from the Carabao Cup semi-final second-leg defeat by Arsenal on Tuesday night after each failing late fitness tests on the morning of the game. The pair took part in a modified training session on Thursday, rather than join their team-mates in a full session.
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Blues head coach Liam Rosenior said in his pre-Wolves press conference on Thursday that it would again be a last-minute decision with the medical staff that determines whether James and Neto are passed fit to feature at Molineux, and the Portuguese winger is fit to start but Chelsea’s captain is not in the matchday squad.
Jamie Gittens is also not available after Rosenior revealed that the winger suffered a tear in his hamstring as he was forced off against West Ham in the first half of last weekend’s 3-2 comeback win at Stamford Bridge.
“Jamie is looking a little bit more long-term - he’s got a tear in his hamstring, which is a real shame,” the Chelsea boss said during the week.
“That’s going to be a big miss for us. It’s too early to say [how long he will be out for].”
Chelsea remain without the injured Tosin Adarabioyo, Dario Essugo, Romeo Lavia and Levi Colwill for their game against bottom club Wolves, while Filip Jorgensen has also been dealing with a knock.
But Rosenior was positive about the availability of Cole Palmer, who is named in the starting line-up alongside stand-in skipper Enzo Fernandez and Neto in support of line-leader Joao Pedro.
It means Andrey Santos lines up at the base of the midfield with Moises Caicedo, while Malo Gusto fills in for James at right-back.
Chelsea XI: Sanchez; Gusto, Fofana, Chalobah, Cucurella; Andrey Santos, Caicedo; Palmer, Enzo, Neto; Joao Pedro
Subs: Sharman-Lowe, Acheampong, Badiashile, Sarr, Hato, Garnacho, Estevao, Delap, Guiu
Injured: James, Jorgensen, Gittens, Tosin, Essugo, Lavia, Colwill
Unavailable: Mudryk
Time and date: 3pm GMT on Saturday February 7, 2026
Venue: Molineux, Wolverhampton
