The treatment room at London Cobham is slowly losing more and more members with another two first-team stars hoping for a spot in Graham Potter’s squad this weekend.
Graham Potter, Manager of Chelsea, looks dejected during the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Fulham FC (Image: Darren Walsh)
The good news on the Chelsea injury front has continued this week with both Christian Pulisic and Wesley Fofana posting major updates on their respective rehabilitation progress from injury. The USMNT star looks set to be further away from a return than Fofana, however the Frenchman could be available for the Blues Premier League clash against West Ham on Saturday.
A post on Instagram from Fofana showed him in full first-team training after over three months out with two separate knee injuries. His first issue was picked up in October in the Champions League clash against AC Milan, before he suffered a setback right before the domestic season returning following the end of the World Cup.
Pulisic meanwhile indicated he would be “back soon” with a post on social media after he was withdrawn from the league clash against Manchester City in early January with a knee injury.
Reece James, Raheem Sterling and Ben Chilwell all made their matchday squad returns last week against Fulham. Graham Potter named James in the starting XI and turned to Sterling and Chilwell from the bench but the Blues were unable to find a way past their west London rivals.
Armando Broja and N’Golo Kante remain as the obvious long-term absentees at Stamford Bridge, but Denis Zakaria could be back soon, judging by his latest update on social media.
The on loan Swiss midfielder suffered his issue in the 2-1 defeat to Fulham on January 12 where Potter initially gave a rough estimate on how long he would be out for. He 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.
If Potter’s timeline is accurate Zakaria should be available for the weekend alongside Fofana, however it is unlikely Chelsea will rush him back with the Champions League last-16 first leg encounter against Borussia Dortmund or the following weekend’s clash with Southampton better games for the 26-year-old to make his return.
source: football.london
