Chelsea injury news: The latest updates from the Blues’ treatment room as Mauricio Pochettino prepares to get down to work with Liverpool up next
Christopher Nkunku will miss Chelsea vs Liverpool (Image: Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
Chelsea have less than one week to prepare for their Premier League opening game against Liverpool at Stamford Bridge as the competitive era under Mauricio Pochettino takes shape.
Having completed the tour of America with three wins and two draws, Chelsea will watch on as their opponents play one more match, taking place against Darmstadt on Monday night. It will be the fifth game Jurgen Klopp has had since the end of last season as both sides look to bounce back from disappointing campaigns.
Chelsea’s young squad have so far shown spark and fire but the injury picked up by Christopher Nkunku in the final game in America, a 1-1 draw with Borussia Dortund, has somewhat put a dampener on the atmosphere.
The French attacker had been one of the stars of the tour, chipping in with two goals to show for his work, but had to be pulled off after just 20 minutes in Chicago. He went down following a tough tackle inside the Dortmund box and was substituted shortly after.
“The doctors are checking him and I hope it is not a big issue,” Pochettino said afterwards. “He fell in the action which was maybe a penalty and he feels something in his knee but we hope it is nothing big. We hope he can be back quickly with the team, we need a few days to assess him.”
With the pitch getting some major attention due to the state of the grass at Soldier Field Stadium, the Argentine added: “We took some risks because the pitch is not perfect because the facilities are used for a different sport.” The ground was used for an Ed Sheeran concert in the days leading up to the game, causing anger from fans that a fearful of missing their new talisman.
“We won’t blame the pitch for the injury though,” Pochettino finished. “For me, it was bad luck.” It is set to see him miss the opening game of the season at least though. It has been reported that it will be weeks rather than months missed due to this setback in somewhat of a boost for Chelsea.
Elsewhere there was no sign of Trevoh Chalobah for the Blues. He had to be taken off in the second half against Fulham having only just come on. He also took a knock in the 5-0 win over Wrexham at the start of the tour.
“I hope it’s not a big issue,” Pochettino said afterwards. “We need to assess now. It doesn’t mean it is big. It was a precaution but we need to assess him the next few days. We don’t believe it is big but hope also.”
Chalobah was part of the squad but not one of those called on to play. He was joined on the bench by new summer signing Lesley Ugochukwu. The 19-year-old arrived from Rennes last week and his place in the squad is yet to be decided with a loan being discussed.
Axel Disasi has arrived, however, and will be in contention to play. Lewis Hall hasn’t had the role he would have hoped for at this stage of the summer and is another doubt to feature here. He is in talks to join Crystal Palace on loan and may well find himself out of the squad once more for this game.
Cesare Casadei is another that is likely to be on the way out. Angelo Gabriel is set to join him in a temporary move away. When it comes to permanent deals, Romelu Lukaku is still isolated and out of the main group with Hakim Ziyech and Callum Hudson-Odoi also angling for a transfer.
The bulk of the first team squad will be available for Pochettino, though. Outside of Nkunku and Chalobah there is a near clear slate of health with Noni Madueke and Mykhailo Mudryk both building their fitness.
It is the group of longer-term abscentees that is calling the bigger issues for Pochettino. Wesley Fofana, Armando Broja, Marcus Bettinelli and Benoit Badiashile are all set to miss the opening months of the season at least. Fofana could yet be out for the entire campaign whilst Broja and Badiashile are hopeful of being back for October at the latest.
Soucre: football.london
