Estêvão, James & Cucurella: Latest Chelsea injury news and expected return dates ahead of Arsenal matchplaceholder image
Estêvão, James & Cucurella: Latest Chelsea injury news and expected return dates ahead of Arsenal match | Getty Images
The latest Chelsea injury news and return dates prior to their game against Arsenal - including an update on Estêvão Willian.
Chelsea face a huge test of their top four credentials this weekend when they take on league leaders Arsenal – and with two new injury concerns on Liam Rosenior’s plate after the disappointing 1-1 draw with Burnley, a difficult game isn’t looking like it will get any easier.
Wonderkid winger Estêvão Willian was an unexpected absentee for the Burnley match, while club captain Reece James was substituted late on due to an apparent knock. With players such as Marc Cucurella and Roméo Lavia also yet to return to the fold, Chelsea could be without as many as 10 first-team players for Sunday’s match at the Emirates.
With kick-off not far away, we’ve collected all of the latest Chelsea injury news below along with the stricken players’ expected return dates when available.
How bad is Estêvão’s injury – and is James injured too?
Brazilian teenager Estêvão Willian had been expected to be in the starting line-up against Burnley but left out of the squad entirely come matchday, with Rosenior later explaining that the youngster had picked up an injury during Friday’s training session.
“Unfortunately yesterday in the training session, he felt awareness in his hamstring,” Rosenior told the media. “At the moment we are scanning it to make sure it’s nothing too serious but he’s unavailable for today’s game and we will see from there.”
There have been no updates since Saturday, with no clarity as to whether Estêvão will be available to face Arsenal – but there are currently no indications that he is expected to endure a lengthy lay-off.
There is also no reason to believe that Reece James has sustained a significant injury after he was replaced late on by Josh Acheampong. The right-back was showing “[the] sign of fatigue,” according to Rosenior, and was withdrawn as a precaution, with the Chelsea head coach adding that “he should be absolutely fine” for the Arsenal match this weekend.
Could Chelsea get Cucurella or Lavia back to face Arsenal?
Chelsea may also be able to call upon the services of injury-plagued midfielder Roméo Lavia again soon, with the Belgian expected to return to full training imminently in the wake of an undisclosed injury – although he is unlikely to make it past the bench this weekend as he rebuild his match fitness.
Another player pushing for a return in the near future is Spanish international left-back Marc Cucurella, who suffered a hamstring injury against Leeds which could keep him out for up to a month. He is highly unlikely to make it back in time to play Arsenal, but a return before the March international break appears likely.
Other players who are close to a return are back-up goalkeeper Filip Jörgensen, who has been sidelined for an unexpectedly long period by an undisclosed injury but is believed to be ready to return imminently, and youngster Dário Essugo, who has been described as being “a little further behind” Lavia as he comes back from a thigh injury. A firm return date is not yet known but he should be back in March barring further setbacks.
Longer-term absentees include winger Jamie Gittens, who is expected to be out for another month with a torn hamstring, and centre-back Levi Colwill, who is unlikely to return from a ruptured ACL before the end of the season. Rosenior will also be unable to call upon Wesley Fofana, who faces a suspension after receiving a red card against Burnley, and Mykhaylo Murdryk, who remains banned due to an alleged doping violation.
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