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Lesley Ugochukwu may miss the next six weeks due to injury, but Mauricio Pochettino has declared that Ben Chilwell and Carney Chukwuemeka are close to recovering from their separate setbacks.
Due to a hamstring injury, Chilwell hasn’t played for the team since the end of September, and Chukwuemeka had only made two appearances before suffering a knee injury.
The FA Cup third-round match between Chelsea and Preston North End is scheduled for this Saturday.
However, the Chelsea manager has stated that neither Chukwuemeka nor Chilwell would be put at danger this weekend.
The forthcoming game comes after a win at Luton Town and, interestingly, after a seven-day break between games, which gave the Blues some much-needed rest after a hectic holiday season.
Pochettino clarified in his pre-game press conference that “Chilwell and Carney are not available for tomorrow.” We’ll wait and see who wins the next match, Fulham or the Middlesbrough semifinal. They have been exercising with the group for the past three days, and we are pleased with how they have progressed.”
“Lavia is getting well from his wound. When he will be available again is unknown.
During the Palace game, he had a quad problem. I believe Benoît will be available the following week.”
“[And] Christoph will be in the squad but he won’t be starting tomorrow due to some concerns he had during the week. As I warned you, we must exercise caution around him.
The Chelsea boss continued, “It’s not the same when he starts to compete after six months without competing.
Lesley Ugochukwu, who is thought to have experienced a setback in his hamstring rehabilitation, was one player whom Pochettino did not mention, according to a Standard story.
The French Under-21 international might miss up to six weeks of action after reinjuring his hamstring during the Blues’ Christmas Eve match against Wolverhampton Wanderers, according to the report.
With 13 appearances in all competitions this season, Ugochukwu has been a key player for Pochettino.
It is also understood that Chelsea has chosen to return teenager Andrey Santos from a dismal loan at Nottingham Forest, where he only made two appearances in the first half of the season, in response to Ugochukwu’s injury.
The 19-year-old has resumed training with Chelsea and may be involved in the match against Preston this coming Saturday.
Nicolas Jackson, who was called up by Senegal for their forthcoming Africa Cup of Nations campaign, will undoubtedly not be playing in the FA Cup match on Saturday.
That might make room for players like Christopher Nkunku and Armando Broja, who are both making their comebacks from lengthy absences due to injury.
“Armando could potentially play,” stated Pochettino. “Christopher won’t be starting due to an injury he sustained over the week.
He will be on the team, but he won’t be starting. He is returning to competition after a six-month hiatus, so we must exercise caution with him.”
The Chelsea manager went on, “Armando is one of our main strikers, so he will have the chance to be maybe more engaged.
It’s a terrific opportunity for him to perform and be at ease. We have a great deal of faith in him because of his extraordinary potential.
He must now put his injury from the previous year behind him and begin acting normally.”
Prior to the January transfer window, Chelsea had been linked to players like Victor Osimhen and Ivan Toney.
However, after spending about £350 million in the summer, they will probably need to sell a few players in order to make any new acquisitions.
