As Chelsea are set to face Preston North End in the FA Cup third round on January 6, Mauricio Pochettino is confronted with a string of injury concerns, prompting squad rotation.
Romeo Lavia, who recently suffered a thigh problem on his debut against Crystal Palace, is currently under assessment by the club.
The Blues, however, may see the return of Ben Chilwell, who is on the brink of making a comeback from a hamstring injury that sidelined him earlier this season.
In addition to Lavia's setback, Pochettino is also managing the injuries of Trevoh Chalobah and Carney Chukwuemeka, adding to the team's challenges ahead of the weekend clash.
Romeo Lavia
Upon joining the Blues in August, Lavia faced exclusion from matchday squads due to a fitness concern. Subsequently, he encountered an ankle problem in October.
Although the Belgian international recently made his debut against Crystal Palace, he sustained an injury in the process. As a result, there's a possibility he might be unavailable this weekend, having been absent for the Luton Town match.
Ben Chilwell
The defender experienced an injury towards the conclusion of Chelsea's Carabao Cup match against Brighton in late September. The good news for the Blues is that he has fully resumed team training, engaging in small group drills alongside Carney Chukwuemeka.
Carney Chukwuemeka
Chukwuemeka suffered an injury prior to the Arsenal game in October and faced another setback following a knee injury in only his second match of the season against West Ham. Nevertheless, he was spotted back in first-team training on Friday morning, indicating that his return is imminent.
Reece James
Unfortunately, Reece James faces another spell on the sidelines due to a hamstring injury suffered against Everton.
Lesley Ugochukwu
Ugochukwu, who picked up a hamstring injury against Wolves, missed subsequent matches against Crystal Palace and Luton.
Robert Sanchez
The goalkeeper, who suffered a knee injury against Manchester United, continues to be sidelined since aggravating the injury in a subsequent match against Everton.
Marc Cucurella
Cucurella, recovering from a left ankle injury, is gradually increasing his rehabilitation efforts, now seen walking on crutches after updating fans with a cast in mid-December.
Trevoh Chalobah
The Englishman, nursing a thigh injury, is back on the training ground but has yet to rejoin full team sessions. Noni Madueke's Instagram story hints at the 24-year-old's progress, showing him working individually with the ball.
Wesley Fofana
The Frenchman, who faced a lengthy absence after tearing his ACL in pre-season training, has made a surprising return to training at Cobham. Despite the initial setback, he provided a brief update on New Year's Eve, sharing his dedication with a post from the training ground: "No day off".
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