Graham Potter has been handed a huge double boost ahead of Chelsea's clash with Liverpool at the weekend. Jurgen Klopp's side are set to welcome the Blues to Anfield on Saturday as the race for top-four heats up.
Both sides head into the clash on 28 points, with only an eight-goal difference separating Liverpool and Chelsea from ninth and 10th in the table, respectively. The west Londoners will be keen to build upon their first win in four games with the Reds yet to win in the Premier League since the turn of the year.
For much of Potter's tenure as Chelsea boss, he's had to scramble to pull a starting line-up together. So, with a number of players beginning to make their returns, the 47-year-old can finally try to find his best XI.
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So, with that being said, football.london takes a look at the latest injury news, updates and return dates.
Kai Havertz
In footage filmed by Sky Sports, Havertz was not pictured at the open Chelsea training session on Wednesday. This initially cast doubt over his availability for the Liverpool tie but he was in training on Thursday.
What Potter said: N/A
Injury: N/A
Expected return date: N/A
Reece James
James suffered a knee injury in Chelsea's 2-0 win over AC Milan last year following a collision with Theo Hernandez. Then, upon his return after the World Cup, he pulled up against Bournemouth triggering another injury.
The 23-year-old returned to the pitches at Cobham ahead of the defeat to Fulham, but was still training alone. Now, ahead of the tie with Liverpool, he featured in first-team training again.
While any sort of involvement at Anfield this weekend remains unlikely, his presence at training will serve as a huge boost to all those involved at the club.
What Potter said: "Reece [James] was out on the grass today, not training with the team but on his own."
Injury: Knee
Expected return date: February
Ben Chilwell
Chilwell was also pictured back in first-team training again alongside James. The defender has missed large parts of the season so he'll be keen to return to match fitness and help Chelsea's chances of claiming a place in the top-four.
What Potter said: "Ben [Chilwell] is getting closer."
Injury: Thigh
Expected return date: February
N'Golo Kante
Kante has suffered an injury-ridden campaign this far but the midfielder has finally returned to the pitches at Cobham, albeit training alone. The Frenchman is getting closer to full fitness but until he joins the first-team group a debut under Potter is left to be desired.
What Potter said: "N’Golo did his first couple of days out training on his own but there is still a long, long way to go."
Injury: Thigh
Expected return date: February
Wesley Fofana
Having missed most of the season so far, former Leicester man Wesley Fofana's influence at the back has been somewhat felt in his absence. However, in a huge boost to the Blues and the defender himself, it appears as though a return is just around the corner, having been pictured in training again.
What Potter said: ''Wesley had a little setback, which can sometimes happen at the very last stage of rehab, so he will be [out for] a couple of weeks."
Injury: Knee
Expected return date : February
Denis Zakaria
The Chelsea loanee has impressed in recent weeks, forcing his way into the first-team after a slow start to his career at Stamford Bridge. However, in a huge blow to the side, he was forced off after 56 minutes in the defeat to Fulham and has handed a major blow to Potter's midfield options.
What Potter said: "Denis is going to be probably four weeks. It’s the top of his quad and that is a blow for us. Hopefully, he can return sooner.”
Injury: Quadricep
Expected return date: Borussia Dortmund (A) - February 15.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek
The midfielder joined his team-mates in training for the first time since November on Tuesday (January 10) but the Fulham clash was deemed too soon. However, he could be available for the trip to Anfield and provide Potter with the versatility needed in the coming run of games.
Di Marzio reporter Nathan Gissing stated that he had gotten over his injury in time to face Palace but has since been taken ill.
What Potter said: “They’re making progress. Ruben [Loftus-Cheek] is getting closer."
Injury: Calf
Expected return date: Liverpool (A) - January 21.
Christian Pulisic
Pulisic was subbed off with an injury in the Premier League defeat to Manchester City, coming off worse in a tackle by John Stones. The United States international was visibly distressed as he went down twice following the challenge.
He was eventually replaced by Carney Chukwuemeka and also was absent from the matchday squad for the FA Cup clash against City. He is set for another lengthy spell on the sidelines.
What Potter said: "No chance, no, he will be out past that [January transfer deadline] and there was never any consideration about him leaving anyway. He is a couple of months out.
"He is disappointed but he is optimistic about coming back quicker than two months. He is in that phase where he is keeping his fingers crossed and hoping his rehab goes well."
Injury: Knee
Expected return date: March
Raheem Sterling
Sterling was replaced by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang inside the opening couple of minutes in the same fixture Chelsea lost Pulisic. The 28-year-old winger fell to the floor with a grimace on his face following a collision with John Stones.
The Athletic reported that the forward is set for a scan on his hamstring to understand the extent of the injury he has suffered and understandably, Sterling was not named in the 18-man squad that travelled to his old stomping ground on Sunday, with Potter giving a brief update on the summer signing.
His second scan is believed to have shown worse damage than first thought though.
What Potter said: . "Raheem less (than Pulisic) but we’re still evaluating the extent of it. Hopefully less than that, though."
Injury: Hamstring
Expected return date: February/March
Edouard Mendy
Chelsea confirmed that Mendy had undergone an operation on a fractured finger sustained during training, meaning he will be absent from the squad in the coming games.
The Senegalese shot-stopper missed the Bournemouth match and didn't even make the bench against Forest. He had previously come back from international duty in October with an injury but played for his club since then despite being replaced as No1 by Kepa Arrizabalaga.
Injury: Finger
Expected return date: Unknown
Armando Broja
Having pulled up nastily in the side's mid-season friendly against Aston Villa, Armando Broja could be heard reeling in pain as his knee injury more than definitely curtailed his 22/23 season. Having made quite the impression under Potter, it was a sad blow for the former Southampton loanee.
What Potter said: ''It was just an unfortunate action. He got caught up with their player and the ground. It doesn’t look positive at the moment but it’s too early to say. Fingers crossed but it is an awkward one.''
Injury: Knee
Expected return date: Late 2023
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