Graham Potter has been dealt another blow to his squad options this week with news that Raheem Sterling could miss today's trip to West Ham. The forward returned to action in last week's draw with Fulham after picking up a hamstring injury in the defeat to Manchester City.
However, the Chelsea boss confirmed on Friday that the England international would be assessed for today's London derby after sustaining a knock in training.
Reece James and Ben Chilwell both returned to the matchday squad for last week's clash with Fulham as Potter's squad continues to get stronger. The Blues remain without Armando Broja, N'Golo Kante, Edouard Mendy and Christian Pulisic, with Wesley Fofana having returned to full training this week as well.
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With that said, football.london has taken a look at the latest injury news from Stamford Bridge ahead of Potter doing battle with David Moyes on Saturday.
Raheem Sterling
The winger returned to action last week after a period on the sidelines. However, he is a doubt to feature at the London Stadium after unfortunately sustaining a knock in training this week.
What Potter said: "We've had a little setback with Raheem [Sterling] he had a little kick in training on the side of his knee, so we're assessing him and he is doubtful for tomorrow."
Injury: Knee
Expected return date: N/A
Mateo Kovacic
Mateo Kovacic was spotted taking part in Chelsea training ahead of their clash against the Hammers at the London Stadium this weekend. The Croatian midfielder has missed the last few games with a calf problem but is in contention to face West Ham and play a key role in Graham Potter's squad.
What Potter said: "Mateo [Kovacic] has trained with the team but it's too soon for him."
Injury: Calf
Expected return date: West Ham (A) - February 11
N'Golo Kante
Kante has suffered an injury-ridden campaign thus 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.
In a major boost, Kante has been doing individual work at Cobham since the end of last week, a source has told football.london. He is not yet training with his teammates, however, but that is understood to not be too far away from doing so.
football.london understands Chelsea have some hope of Kante returning to team training by the end of the week, or the start of the following week. However, there will be no rush to return him to action too soon.
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: Hamstring
Expected return date: Late February/Early March
Mykhailo Mudryk
Mudryk was brought off at half-time in the Blues' clash with Fulham. At first, the decision to replace the winger appeared to be tactical but Potter later confirmed otherwise.
The 22-year-old posted an Instagram story on Monday of what looks to be the grass pitches at Cobham which could indicate he is back to 100% and training again, before following it up on Wednesday with a video in the gym alongside Mateo Kovacic and Armando Broja.
What Potter has said: "He's had a heavy cold this week and he was just feeling heavy-legged at half time and we didn't want to take a chance. He's still in the process where we're building up his minutes after the break he was on in Ukraine. So that was our decision there."
Expected return date: West Ham (A) - February 11
Reece James
James was named in the starting line-up against Fulham and he was brought off at the hour mark. The Blues will be looking to ease the right-back back in the frame amid worries that he could trigger another injury.
What Potter said: "Ben Chilwell, Reece James, Raheem Sterling, and Ruben [Loftus-Cheek] are back in the squad, not ready for 90 minutes but in the squad."
Injury: Knee
Expected return date: West Ham (A) - February 11
Ben Chilwell
Cucurella was preferred to Chilwell against Fulham but the Englishman made his return from injury as a substitute late into the second-half.
What Potter said: "Ben Chilwell, Reece James, Raheem Sterling, and Ruben [Loftus-Cheek] are back in the squad, not ready for 90 minutes but in the squad."
Injury: Thigh
Expected return date: West Ham (A) - February 11
Raheem Sterling
Potter also welcomed back Sterling to his squad and the former Man City man got his first taste of minutes in over a month as he came on against Fulham in the second-half.
What Potter said: "Ben Chilwell, Reece James, Raheem Sterling, and Ruben [Loftus-Cheek] are back in the squad, not ready for 90 minutes but in the squad."
Injury: Hamstring
Expected return date: West Ham (A) - February 11
Christian Pulisic
Pulisic has issued a two-word hint on his Chelsea return date as he continues to nurse a knee injury. The 24-year-old came off second best in a collision with John Stones when the Blues locked horns with Manchester City in the Premier League earlier last month.
The winger has posted an image on himself from when he limped off the pitch against City. Pulisic simply captioned his post: "Back soon."
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
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.
He was not named in the squad to face Fulham. However, the Frenchman has seemingly now joined full first-team training after judging by his latest Instagram story.
What Potter said: "Wesley [Fofana] has been part training partly with the team and he will be stepping it up next week."
Injury: Knee
Expected return date: West Ham (A) - February 11
Denis Zakaria
The Chelsea loanee has impressed, 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 last month.
Taking to Twitter, Zakaria posted an image of himself next to Reece James on training bikes, captioning the image, "Step by step. See you soon! *bicep muscle emoji*"
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: Thigh
Expected return date: West Ham (A) - February 11
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 was not in the squad to face Fulham.
Injury: Finger
Expected return date: Unknown
Armando Broja
Chelsea are set to be without Broja for sometime 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 form.
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. He could be out of action for a minimum of five months and a maximum of 12.
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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