Europa League finalists Manchester United travel to Chelsea for a Premier League meeting on Friday night and both teams will be without some key first-team players
Nicolas Jackson walking off after his red card during Newcastle vs Chelsea
Chelsea will be without the suspended Nicolas Jackson against Manchester United (
Image: Getty Images)
Chelsea's preparations for their Premier League match against Manchester United have been dealt a blow with the news that Christopher Nkunku won't be fit to return. The Blues were already without the suspended Nicolas Jackson, and both they and their opponents are well below full-strength for Friday's game.
Jackson was sent off last weekend as Chelsea lost to Newcastle to leave their Champions League qualification hopes in jeopardy. Anything less than two wins from the final two games will leave the door open for Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest, with the latter hosting Enzo Maresca's team on the final day.
Jackson and Nkunku are two of 16 players missing from across the two squads. The latter was already expected to sit the game out, having also missed the victory over Liverpool, but Maresca confirmed as much in his pre-match press conference.
"Christo is close to coming back and training with us," Maresca told reporters. "I said two weeks ago it was a very small problem, ten days, two weeks. Probably next week he can start already with us."
Nkunku and Jackson are among several Chelsea players missing for the game, but Reece James is available to play a part. Maresca confirmed the club captain has recovered from illness, but others will have to wait to make their returns.
Chelsea striker Marc Guiu has been out injured since February. He's now back in training but Maresca confirmed he isn't fit to start on Friday - and he might not be ready to feature at all.
Wesley Fofana and Omari Kellyman are out for the season through injury, while Mykhailo Mudryk remains provisionally suspended and Jadon Sancho is unable to face his parent club. Young defender Aaron Anselmino is another injury doubt while James' recent illness means that - while he could feature - Chelsea may decide not to risk him.
Jadon Sancho is ineligible to face parent club Manchester United (
Image:
Getty Images)
As for Manchester United, Lisandro Martinez and Joshua Zirkzee are unavailable due to season-ending injuries. Leny Yoro is also unlikely to be back in time after being forced off in last week's defeat to West Ham, while there are question marks over Diogo Dalot and Matthijs de Ligt.
With a Europa League final coming up against Tottenham on Wednesday, United boss Ruben Amorim may opt against risking others who have only recently returned to training. That means Toby Collyer and Jonny Evans could get another game to recover if not required at Stamford Bridge.
Amorim was also asked about Luke Shaw, having withdrawn the defender at the same time as Yoro last weekend, but indicated he was keen to protect the defender amid a tough time for injuries around the club this term. "It’s not what it’s going to be, it’s the history," Amorim said.
"We have to manage the minutes, like Mason Mount. Mason Mount is ready, but we are trying to build these guys a little bit longer for them to cope. Then, in the future, they will be okay.”
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