Chelsea continue to struggle with an extensive injury list ahead of their Premier League meeting with Aston Villa this weekend. The Blues have struggled with a host of first-team players sidelined in recent weeks, although a number of senior stars are closing in on a return to full fitness.
Chelsea got back to winning ways with a 4-0 win over Everton last weekend, cementing their spot in the Premier League top four.
Goals from Mason Mount, Pedro, Willian and Olivier Giroud secured victory at Stamford Bridge, ensuring Frank Lampard’s side maintain a three-point gap over Manchester United in the table.
However, Chelsea fans will have been concerned to see Mount limp off before the hour with the England international the latest injury concern for the depleted Blues squad, although his issue may not be as bad as first thought.
Express Sport have pulled together the rest of the Blues injury news and likely return dates ahead of their clash with Aston Villa this week.
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Chelsea injury news: Mason Mount is expected to be available against Aston Villa (Image: GETTY)
Mason Mount
Mount was forced off after an hour against Everton after picking up a knock on the knee.
The midfielder was replaced by Reece James but the decision appears to have been merely a precaution and the initial diagnosis is not serious.
Speaking after the match, Mount said: “I took a little knock, a knee in the back of my knee.
“It was precautionary to see how it was. But now, I feel fine and hopefully in the next couple of days I will get treatment in and it will be fine.”
(Potential return vs Aston Villa, March 14)
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Mateo Kovacic
Kovacic picked up an Achilles injury against Liverpool last week which forced him to miss the visit of Everton on Sunday.
Lampard gave an update on the Croatian before the Premier League clash, indicating that Kovacic should not be sidelined for an extended period of time.
“Kovacic isn’t fit, his Achilles injury will take him out of the weekend, but hopefully it will not be long after that,” said Lampard.
(Potential return vs Aston Villa, March 14)
Chelsea injury news: Mateo Kovacic picked up an Achilles injury against Liverpool (Image: GETTY)
N’Golo Kante
Kante went off early during the 2-0 loss to Manchester United at Stamford Bridge last month and has not played for Chelsea since.
Speaking after the win over United, Lampard said: ”N’Golo [Kante] is not fit. He has got a muscle injury [adductor], similar to the one he came off recently against Arsenal with.
“Hopefully he will be [back] in three weeks, something around that.”
The Frenchman was not fit enough to face Liverpool or Everton but could be in contention to make the matchday squad for the visit to Villa Park – although Lampard is yet to give a recent update on his progress.
(Potential return vs Aston Villa, March 14)
Christian Pulisic
Pulisic has been sidelined for the past two months, with Lampard revealing the winger was suffering with a “difficult injury”, thought to be a thigh/abductor problem.
The 21-year-old has not featured for the first team since New Year’s Day, although he has played a friendly game behind closed doors.
“We’ve just had an in-house game here, that Ruben [Loftus-Cheek] and Christian Pulisic took part in.
“Great to see Christian get some minutes, he’s still short of match fitness, but it’s the first time the injury’s gone up to a level to get him on a big pitch in a relatively competitive match, so it’s a big step forward hopefully.
“I’ll found out how it went later, but I just watched it.”
(Potential return vs Aston Villa, March 14)
Chelsea injury news: Christian Pulisic has not played since New Year’s Day (Image: GETTY)
Ruben Loftus-Cheek
Like Pulisic, Loftus-Cheek is building up his match fitness and could hope to feature from off the bench against Aston Villa this weekend.
Speaking about the in-house match last week, Lampard said: “Ruben played half of that game himself, and is trying to find match fitness.
“He’s short of that, and Ruben’s saying that himself and I can see that. So there’s work to be done with Ruben.”
The midfielder will hope to be handed some first-team minutes in the near future, and stepping off the bench against Villa could be one such opportunity.
(Potential return vs Aston Villa, March 14)
Tammy Abraham
Abraham has been struggling with an ankle injury in recent weeks and suffered a new setback after pulling up after the final whistle during the Champions League defeat to Bayern, potentially as a result of a clash with Jerome Boateng.
Chelsea’s top scorer picked up the initial problem in the 2-2 draw with Arsenal in January and sat out the FA Cup clash with Hull before playing through the pain against Leicester.
The 22-year-old then missed the defeat to Manchester United and was a substitute in the victory over Tottenham then came off the bench again versus Bayern.
However, he did not make the matchday against Bournemouth, Liverpool or Everton and Lampard revealed the frontman has been to Spain for a scan.
“[Abraham] went to Barcelona to have a look at his ankle with another pair of eyes on it but I’ve got no update,” Lampard said before the clash with Liverpool.
The Chelsea boss has since confirmed the striker would return before the end of the month, saying: “I hope so. He’s not training with us at the moment.”
(Potential return vs Leicester City, March 21)
Callum Hudson-Odoi
Hudson-Odoi has been nursing a hamstring injury which has ruled him out for over a month, with the 19-year-old suffering a set-back last week.
Speaking about Hudson-Odoi on Friday, Lampard said: ”He had a re-injury, yesterday. We’re having a scan on him this afternoon. So he will be longer than expected.
“It’s tough, he wasn’t rushed back, we had all the signs that he was fit to train. Then he re-injured it on his first training session with us.
“So it’s frustrating for him definitely, a young boy who’s keen to play as you’d expect. And it’s frustrating because it’s another injury to us.”
(Potential return vs West Ham United, April 5)
Chelsea injury news: Callum Hudson-Odoi suffered a set-back in his recovery from a hamstring injury (Image: GETTY)
Marco van Ginkel
Van Ginkel completes the injury list, with the Dutchman still working his way back after an anterior cruciate ligament injury.
The 27-year-old has returned to training after more than a year out and has shared his progress on Instagram.
“After more than a year, finally back on the pitch,” he wrote. “For most players it is normal to be training outside, but I had some setbacks during my recovery which was really frustrating.
“I am working hard everyday, not there yet but it is getting closer now.”
(Potential return unknown)
