Chelsea will face Leicester City in their last game before the international break this weekend. Speaking in a pre-match press conference, Mauricio Pochettino confirmed his side will have a key defender back in their squad for the FA Cup clash.
Ben Chilwell Is Back!
An Injury-Ridden Campaign
A serious hamstring injury in early October dashed Chilwell’s hopes of claiming a starting spot under Pochettino. The England international returned to action in January but was sidelined again with a knee injury earlier this month.
Marc Cucurella was rushed back into Chelsea’s starting lineup shortly after his own return from the sidelines last week. But the Spaniard will most likely share minutes with Chilwell on Sunday.
Asked about the left-back’s availability for the match against Leicester City, Pochettino said: “Gareth [Southgate] already told you that he’s fit and back for training. Everything is going well. He will in the squad for Sunday, yes.
“When a player comes back from injury, starts to feel fit, and then has a call-up for the national team, they are always so excited. So, he is excited like the rest of the players [selected for England].”
Chelsea Injury List Ahead of Leicester City Match
In addition to Chilwell, Benoit Badiashile has also returned to training for the first time since suffering a groin injury in February.
The pair’s comeback is a significant squad boost for Chelsea before their next FA Cup match. However, the Blues still have a number of key players on the sidelines ahead of the international break.
Christopher Nkunku, who was injured during the Carabao Cup final against Liverpool, is expected to stay out of action until early April. There are no updates regarding Levi Colwill after a toe injury that ruled him out for Chelsea’s 3-2 win over Newcastle on Monday.
Pochettino has remained confident that Reece James could make his comeback before the end of the campaign. However, Wesley Fofana will most likely stay sidelined until the summer.
Romeo Lavia, who has made only one appearance for the Blues this season, is yet to complete his recovery from a thigh injury. Speaking before his side’s defeat in the Carabao Cup final, Pochettino avoided giving a timeline for the 20-year-old’s comeback.
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