Chelsea injuries: Latest James, Nkunku & Colwill news and potential return dates
- Chelsea have had an extensive injury list throughout the season
- Club captain Reece James has been out since December
- Several summer arrivals have scarcely featured due to fitness issues
Mauricio Pochettino's mother affectionately calls her son a 'llorona' - a crybaby.
"Very sensitive," Pochettino described himself earlier this season. "I have become more so with time. I cry more and I become a better person every day."
There have been plenty of opportunities for the tears to flow during Pochettino's turbulent debut campaign at Chelsea. While results have been the main source of angst, the perennially packed treatment room can't be particularly easy to walk past.
Here's a round-up of the current injury woes playing on Pochettino's mind.
Chelsea injuries
Enzo Fernandez
- Issue: Hernia
- Return: Summer 2024
Fernandez missed a couple of games in April due to an adductor issue, and the Argentine is believed to have played through pain after returning from that setback.
The midfielder has since undergone surgery to fix a hernia, and he won't be in action for the Blues again before the start of next season.
Reece James
- Issue: Hamstring injury
- Potential Return: May 2024
Pochettino made the surprising decision to appoint James as Chelsea's captain despite his chronic unavailability. The fallible full-back had sat out 80 matches for club and country across the previous four seasons before pulling up with yet another hamstring complaint in August.
After working his way back to full fitness by October, James lasted just two months before taking up his familiar seat in the rehabilitation room. The surgeon who was holding the knife James went under in December predicted that he would be in "top shape" ahead of Euro 2024.
Pochettino said after the March international break: "No, I don't know [when James will return]. We will assess it week by week, and we will see. We hope yes, we hope that he will be available for the end of the season."
Ben Chilwell
- Issue: Knee injury
- Potential Return: Unknown
Chilwell will want to quickly rid himself of the memories of 2023/24, with the left-back seemingly in a perpetual battle with his knee.
The England international has been struggling with a knee injury ever since tearing his ACL back in 2021. He went to see a specialist after enduring another setback in March, and it's clear that Chilwell is not yet 100%.
It wouldn't be a surprise to see him sit out for the rest of the season.
Wesley Fofana
- Issue: Knee injury
- Potential Return: Summer 2024
Fofana's career in England has been marred by some significant injuries at both Leicester City and Chelsea, with the centre-back facing another extended spell on the sidelines.
The French defender underwent surgery on an ACL injury in mid-July and won't be featuring at all in 2023/24. The club will hope to have the talented centre-back 100% fit by the time 2024/25 comes around.
Romeo Lavia
- Issue: Hamstring injury
- Potential Return: Summer 2024
Lavia has not had much luck at the beginning of his Chelsea career.
The Belgian picked up an ankle injury in training just before the September international break which kept him out until Christmas. Lavia's solitary appearance for Chelsea lasted just 32 minutes in a 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace - one minute for every £1.8m spent on the teenager (before taking into account his wages).
Lavia has been recovering from a hamstring injury since, and the Blues have confirmed that the midfielder won't play for the club again this season after enduring a setback in his recovery.
Lesley Ugochukwu
- Issue: Ankle injury
- Potential Return: Unknown
Forget that out-of-date gift card you got in the Secret Santa at work, Lesley Ugochukwu received the worst early Christmas present.
The France Under-21 international had only just returned from a month-long layoff before damaging his hamstring again in Chelsea's Christmas Eve defeat to Wolves.
Ugochukwu was only expected to miss six weeks but is still stuck on the sidelines with any return date clouded in uncertainty. The midfielder has stepped up his recovery as of late, however.
Robert Sanchez
Issue: Unknown
Potential Return: vs Nottingham Forest (A) - 11/05/24
Sanchez has been usurped as Chelsea's number one by Dorde Petrovic, with the Spaniard barely featuring for the club in 2024.
The summer arrival has battled injury and illness in recent weeks, missing Chelsea's last few outings due to an unspecified minor issue. It's anyone's guess as to when Sanchez could return, although there are murmurs he might be back very soon.
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