Palmer, James & Delap: Latest Chelsea injury news and expected return dates ahead of Brentford matchplaceholder image
Palmer, James & Delap: Latest Chelsea injury news and expected return dates ahead of Brentford match | Getty Images
The latest Chelsea injury news and return dates - including updates on Cole Palmer, Recee James and Liam Delap.
Chelsea are back in action on Saturday when they welcome a high-flying Brentford side to Stamford Bridge – but Liam Rosenior’s quest for a first Premier League win as manager won’t be made easier by a string of fresh issues with injury and illness.
Cole Palmer, Reece James and Malo Gusto are all doubts for this weekend after missing the midweek EFL Cup defeat to Arsenal with injuries, while Liam Delap and Jamie Gittens have both been struck down by illness. All told, Chelsea could be forced to make do without as many as nine first-team players against Brentford.
With kick-off fast approaching, we’ve collected all of the latest Chelsea injury news and selection updates below, along with the stricken players’ expected return dates when available.
Will Cole Palmer or Reece James be fit for Chelsea this weekend?
Cole Palmer was an unexpected absentee for both the FA Cup win over Charlton Athletic and Wednesday night’s match against Arsenal, with Rosenior revealing that the attacking midfielder had suffered a “minor strain in his thigh.”
Palmer returned to training on Thursday, raising hopes that he would be fit to face Brentford, but his matchday status has not yet been confirmed. As it stands, Palmer is a minor doubt for the game, with Rosenior strongly suggesting that the decision to leave Palmer out of recent squads was largely precautionary in nature.
Reece James was also back in training on Thursday after a minor groin injury – his first injury in over a calendar year – kept him out of the two cup ties as well. Chelsea’s captain is also likely to be involved in some capacity against Brentford.
That could be helpful with fellow right-back Malo Gusto also a doubt for this weekend’s game. The Frenchman has been out for the last week with an undisclosed injury, with Rosenior saying that he was rested for the Arsenal match to give him some “extra time” to recover. As with Palmer and James, the likelihood appears to be that Gusto is able to play at least some part on Saturday.
Liam Delap and Jamie Gittens among victims of ‘dangerous’ illness
Aside from injury issues, there is further concern over the availability of summer signings Liam Delap and Jamie Gittens, both victims of an unspecified virus which has also affected members of Chelsea’s backroom staff.
“I want to keep the ill players away from the group,” Rosenior said on Wednesday. “They both have dangerously high temperatures. Hopefully, they can rest up and be OK for Saturday.”
At the time of publishing, Rosenior had not yet confirmed whether either player had returned to full health and training in time to be considered for selection, and both players are major doubts for the Brentford match.
Other players who will be absent this weekend include midfielders Roméo Lavia (hamstring) and Dário Essugo (thigh), both of whom have returned to light training but are not expected to return to the playing squad until mid-February. Levi Colwill (ACL) is still likely to be out until the end of the season, and winger Mykhaylo Mudryk remains suspended due to alleged doping violations.
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