There is some doubt at Chelsea over whether Jamie Gittens and Filip Jorgensen will be fit before the end of the season.
Head coach Liam Rosenior was unable to give assurances that either player will be back during the run-in.
Gittens had been closing in on a return from a hamstring injury but was then a surprise absentee from the squad for their 7-0 FA Cup win over Port Vale a fortnight ago.
Rosenior revealed after that match that Gittens had suffered a setback on his hamstring recovery in training the previous day.
Jorgensen, meanwhile, has not played for Chelsea since his disastrous involvement in their Champions League last-16 first leg 5-2 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain. The second-choice goalkeeper underwent minor surgery in Munich shortly after that game and has not been involved with the first-team since.
Ahead of Saturday’s crucial league game against Manchester United, Rosenior was asked whether English winger Gittens will be able to play again this season.
“I can't give you a definitive answer on that,” he replied. “Jamie actually has responded really well to his last setback, but I don't want to put pressure on him. We need to make sure he's right in the long term.”
Then asked for an update on Jorgensen, Rosenior simply responded: “The same.”
After five defeats from six games, Rosenior and Chelsea are under immense pressure to turn the tide and regain form for the season run-in.
But the head coach spoke steadfastly about pressure coming back onto himself.
“I was questioned after three minutes of joining this club, let alone three months,” he said.
“It’s why I’m here. The noise? If I couldn’t deal with the noise, I wouldn’t be sat in this chair. I’m aware. I’m so aware of what things would be like, in terms of the noise, for me, if things, which is natural for every manager, go in a different way to what you want.
“It’s absolutely fine. I’m confident in our ability as a football club. I’m confident in the project.”
