Chelsea injury update: Reece James, Christopher Nkunku and Benoit Badiashile latest news and return dates
Mauricio Pochettino still has a fairly large squad but a spate of injuries has meant the Blues are far-from full strength after the draw with Liverpool.
Noni Madueke was fit to make the bench at Stamford Bridge but Christopher Nkunku remains the key absence in attack.
Benoit Badiashile, Trevoh Chalobah and Wesley Fofana are all missing from Pochettino’s backline.
Here is your latest update of Chelsea injuries and return dates…
Reece James
There were concerns around James’ fitness when he came off in the latter stages against Liverpool.
However, manager Pochettino has confirmed the right-back was simply “tired” and, after a pre-season beset by injury, the manager wanted a zero-risk approach to his captain’s wellbeing.
“The first thing we did when we arrived was to assess and analyse all of the players from the past,” he said. “He was injured for three or four months.
“This pre-season was tough for him, we didn’t want to take any risk and that is why at 80 minutes, we wanted to avoid the risk.”
Reece James should be fit for West Ham next weekend
/ Liverpool FC via Getty ImagesChristopher Nkunku
The forward suffered an injury against Borussia Dortmund in Chicago, Chelsea’s final pre-season friendly.
Scans revealed a serious knee injury and Nkunku is now facing months out after surgery on his meniscus. A statement read: “Nkunku has sustained a knee injury which will rule the forward out for an extended period.
“The 25-year-old has undergone an operation and will now begin a rehabilitation programme with the club’s medical department.”
No exact timeframe is being given but reports have suggested a late November to early December return.
Benoit Badiashile
Talking of “extended periods” on the sidelines, that was the timeframe Chelsea gave Badiashile after the defender picked up a hamstring injury at the end of last season.
The 22-year-old subsequently missed the enter of Chelsea’s pre-season but last week posted that he had returned to training. It is still going to be a few weeks until Badiashile is back fit and ready to play.
Benoit Badiashile is back in training
/ Chelsea FC via Getty ImagesWesley Fofana
Fofana is expected to miss the majority of the season after suffering an ACL injury. The centre-back has undergone surgery and unlikely to return before March next year.
Mauricio Pochettino has said he “hopes” Fofana returns before the end of the season, but that is in doubt. Fofana recently posted an Instagram story of a tools emoji and leg emoji to indicate the start of his recovery.
Trevoh Chalobah
A number of Chelsea players are currently out with undetermined timeframes, including Chalobah, Marcus Bettinelli and Armando Broja, who had major knee surgery nine months ago.
Chalobah in the stands at Stamford Bridge on Sunday and is “in the process of reconditioning” following a thigh issue.
