The latest on Nkunku, Chilwell, and Lavia’s injuries and when they will be able to play again before the cup semi-final
If Chelsea switch the FA Cup for the Carabao Cup on Tuesday night, they could get one step closer to playing at Wembley. Mauricio Pochettino’s team is in the semi-final, where they will play Middlesbrough’s Michael Carrick in a two-legged match that starts at the Riverside Stadium.
Even though there’s a great chance to win some hardware, it won’t be easy to beat Boro in both games, especially since the team has some new injury worries. That being said, here is the most recent news about that subject before the match.
Christopher Nkunku
Christopher Nkunku has had yet another fitness problem, but he did play against Preston. Pochettino revealed after the game that the forward has a new hip injury. There were rumors that he would be out for three weeks, but other rumors say that it was just a measure to take the Frenchman off before some big games.
Date of possible return: unknown
Ben Chilwell
Chilwell got hurt near the end of Chelsea’s Carabao Cup match against Brighton at the end of September. Luckily for the Blues, he’s now back to full-team training with Carney Chukwuemeka. The two of them have been seen doing small-group tasks together.
January 2024 is a possible return date.
Carney Chukwuemeka
In October, Chukwuemeka got hurt before the game against Arsenal. He then had another setback when he hurt his knee against West Ham in only his second game of the season. But he was seen working with the first team again on Friday morning, which means he will be back soon.
January 2024 is a possible return date.
Romeo Lavia
When he first joined the Blues in August, Lavia wasn’t in the gameday teams because he wasn’t fit enough for the games. In October, he hurt his ankle. The Belgian international played his first game two weeks ago against Crystal Palace, but he got hurt. He might not be able to play this weekend because he missed the trip to Luton Town.
January 2024 is a possible return date.
Marc Cucurella
In the middle of December, the left back posted an update on social media about his injury. Two pictures of the cast on his left ankle were included. We can see that Cucurella is now using sticks to walk as he slowly but surely gets better.
Date of possible return: unknown
Trevoh Chalobah
Chalobah has been hurt in the thigh and hasn’t played for Chelsea yet this season. He is now back to training on the grass, but it looks like he isn’t with his peers yet. Noni Madueke has now dropped a hint that Chalobah might be close to coming back by posting an Instagram story of the defender working out alone on the grass with the ball.
Date of possible return: unknown
Wesley Fofana
Fofana will be out for most of the season because he tore his ACL during pre-season training. He’s still back to working on the fields at Cobham, though.
April 2024 is a possible return date.
