Graham Potter has been boosted by the return of three key players ahead of Chelsea's clash against Leeds United on Saturday. The Blues suffered arguably their biggest injury blow of the season so far after the club confirmed Thiago Silva had damaged his knee ligaments.
The Brazilian defender was substituted off in the 19th minute of the Blues' Premier League clash with Tottenham and now looks set to miss a defining few weeks for Graham Potter. Silva now joins Cesar Azpilicueta on the injury list after the latter suffered a head injury against Southampton and is therefore still adhering to concussion protocols before returning to training.
Christian Pulisic and N'Golo Kante both took part in full first team training after stepping up their recovery at Cobham. Mateo Kovacic has recovered from an illness that saw him miss the defeat to Spurs at the weekend.
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With that said, football.london takes a look at all the latest injury news from Stamford Bridge before the Blues take on Leeds in the Premier League.
Thiago Silva
Silva was subbed off with a knee injury in the Premier League clash against Tottenham over the weekend. On Tuesday, Chelsea released a statement detailing his diagnosis. "Having sustained a knee injury during the first half of Sunday’s match against Tottenham Hotspur, Thiago underwent further assessment and a scan on his return to the training centre on Monday.
"Scan results from those assessments have confirmed damage to Thiago’s knee ligaments and he will now work closely with the club’s medical department during his rehabilitation to return to action as soon as possible."
What Potter said: “I’m not sure. Hopefully it’s not too serious but I haven’t spoken to the doctor enough to have a diagnosis for you.”
Injury: Knee
Expected return date: Late March/early April
Christian Pulisic
Pulisic looks set to be closing in on a return to the Chelsea matchday squad after nearly two months out with a knee injury. Posting to his Instagram story, the United States international revealed he is back training on the pitches at Cobham with a picture alongside Mason Mount.
The USMNT international was partially involved in first-team training on Monday, handing a major boost to Potter ahead of the clash with Leeds.
What Potter said: "We've had a good week's training, everyone is available pretty much apart from N'Golo and Christian Pulsiic. They are making progress, joining the warm-ups, and they will be more integrated next week. So that is good."
Injury: Knee
Expected return date: March
N'Golo Kante
Kante, who sees is contract expire in the summer - although Chelsea are now very confident he will sign a new deal, as football.london understands - is yet to feature under Potter after suffering a hamstring injury against Tottenham in August. The France international has been doing some light training with the rest of the Chelsea squad at Cobham recently as he builds his match fitness, football.london understands.
That recovery was taken up yet another notch on Monday as the midfielder took part in some partial first-team training, edging closer to a return.
What Potter said: "We've had a good week's training, everyone is available pretty much apart from N'Golo and Christian Pulsiic. They are making progress, joining the warm-ups, and they will be more integrated next week. So that is good."
Injury: Hamstring
Expected return date: March
Mateo Kovacic
Having returned to action following injury against Southampton, Kovacic was missing from the matchday squad against Spurs. It doesn't appear to be anything to worry about though.
What Potter said: "Mateo was ill."
Injury: Illness
Expected return date: Leeds, March 4.
Cesar Azpilicueta
Azpilicueta sustained a concussion against Southampton last week following a collisions with Sekou Mara. The defender left the pitch on a stretcher and was taken to hospital but he's on the mend now as he eyes a return. He was at the stadium against Tottenham but not as part of the matchday squad.
What Potter said: "He's [Azpilicueta] as ok as can be when you've had that concussion. He won't be ready for the weekend as we have to go through the protocols, but he's doing well."
Injury: Concussion
Expected return date: Early March
Edouard Mendy
Chelsea confirmed early in January that Mendy had undergone an operation on a fractured finger sustained during training, meaning he will be absent from the squad for some time. The Senegalese shot-stopper was expected to miss at least six weeks, and has yet to return.
Injury: Finger
Expected return date: Unknown
Armando Broja
Chelsea are set to be without Broja until at least the summer months, after the striker suffered a knee injury in a mid-season friendly against Aston Villa. The 20-year-old screamed in pain following a collision with Ezri Konsa and he was subsequently stretchered off the field of play.
He looked to be in considerable pain and was seen to be clutching his leg as he was tended to by medical staff. The Albania international had no history of knee injuries and his injury is a major blow with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang out of favour at present.
Broja is expected to be out for at least the remainder of the season after learning that he needs surgery to fix a ruptured cruciate ligament in his right knee, football.london understands.
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: Summer/Autumn 2023
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