helsea boss Graham Potter has admitted to a number of setbacks as the club look to overcome their injury crisis.
Raheem Sterling and Christian Pulisic have been given potentially lengthy timeframes for their return to the side.
Meanwhile, Reece James is still some way off a comeback from a knee issue and fans have been sent a warning over their expectations for N’Golo Kante.
Ben Chilwell, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Wesley Fofana, Armando Broja, Edouard Mendy and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang are all carrying injuries but there has been positive news regarding one of those players.
Here is your latest Chelsea injury news update…
Raheem Sterling
A hamstring injury could keep Sterling out for a few weeks with Potter admitting his uncertainty over the winger on Wednesday.
He said: “Raheem less [than two months] but we’re still evaluating the extent of it. Hopefully less than that, though.”
Christian Pulisic
After suffering a knee injury against Manchester City in the Premier League defeat last week, winger Pulisic is set for “a couple of months” out, according to his manager, who added: “We think, hopefully, less, but that’s the timeframe.”
Pulisic’s extended absence is thought to have contributed to Chelsea’s urgency in signing Joao Felix.
Reece James
Still unavailable after injuring his knee on his comeback from a previous problem, James was previously thought to be heading for a return in late January.
The right-back is currently in individual training and yet to rejoin the main group, although Chelsea’s exit from the FA Cup has opened up a week off at the end of the month to minimise the impact of any delays.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
A back issue kept Aubameyang out of the FA Cup trip to Manchester City.
Potter has since been able to confirm that the 33-year-old is “fine” and in the squad to face Fulham on Thursday.
N’Golo Kante
A return by the early spring is still potentially on the cards for Kante, who this week stepped up his recovery from a hamstring problem.
“N’Golo did his first couple of days out training on his own but there is still a long, long way to go,” Potter said. “But it felt more positive.”
Ben Chilwell
Chilwell was described as “getting closer” to a return from his hamstring injury this week.
No timeframe has been posted on his comeback though, after he suffered the blow just before the World Cup.
Wesley Fofana
Potter did not mention Fofana’s recovery from a knee injury during Wednesday’s press conference.
Previously tipped for a mid-January return, he is not yet reported to be in contention to play for Chelsea.
Edouard Mendy
The goalkeeper’s wait for a playing return suffered a setback on the weekend when he suffered a fractured bone in his finger, which required surgery.
He has still not played since the World Cup having also been hit by a shoulder problem.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek
The midfielder went off early with a thigh injury in the defeat to Newcastle exactly one month ago.
Potter informed Chelsea fans that Loftus-Cheek was “getting closer” as he continues to “make progress” alongside Chilwell.
Armando Broja
Broja’s season is expected to be over after he underwent an operation on a knee injury he suffered in a mid-season friendly against Aston Villa.
The young striker posted an update from his hospital bed a few weeks ago as his long road to recovery began.
