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Posted on March 6, 2026 11:45 pm | Updated on March 6, 2026 11:34 pm
Chelsea head to North Wales this weekend for an FA Cup fifth round clash against Wrexham, hoping to keep their cup run alive. The Blues will travel to the Racecourse Ground for Saturday’s 5.45 pm kickoff, but the trip comes with several injury concerns for manager Liam Rosenior.
The Chelsea boss addressed the media ahead of the fixture and delivered an update on the fitness of several first team players. While a few important names remain unavailable, there were also encouraging signs regarding attackers who are close to returning.
Chelsea dealing with several absences
Chelsea will make the journey to Wrexham without a number of senior players. Rosenior confirmed that Levi Colwill continues his recovery from a serious knee injury that has kept him out since earlier in the season. The defender is progressing well but the club are determined not to rush him back before he is fully ready. Midfielder Dario Essugo is also unavailable. The Portuguese youngster has not yet featured this season because of a thigh problem and remains some distance away from returning to full training with the squad.
Wesley Fofana is another concern after picking up a knock. The French centre back has struggled with injuries in recent seasons, so the medical staff are once again taking a cautious approach with his recovery. Mykhailo Mudryk will not be involved either. The winger is still serving a suspension linked to an alleged doping violation that remains under review. On a more positive note, Pedro Neto is available again after completing a one match ban and could provide Rosenior with another attacking option.
Managing these absences has become a challenge for Chelsea this season. As per the reports, the coaching staff are rotating the squad while balancing their FA Cup run with the demands of the Premier League schedule.
Positive recovery updates for Estevao and Bynoe Gittens
Despite the injury list, Rosenior was able to provide encouraging updates on two young wingers who are edging closer to a return. Brazilian talent Estevao Willian has been working his way back after missing the last three matches with a hamstring injury. The 18 year old has now returned to training on the pitch, though he will not be ready in time for the Wrexham fixture. Rosenior explained that the club want to handle the situation carefully to avoid any setbacks. Hamstring injuries can worsen if a player returns too soon, particularly during a busy run of matches.
There was also positive news regarding Jamie Bynoe Gittens. The winger has been out since the end of January with a similar hamstring issue but is now closing in on a comeback. A recent scan delivered encouraging results and Rosenior revealed that Gittens could return to group training within the next week if recovery continues smoothly.
Romeo Lavia building fitness after long layoff
Romeo Lavia is another player gradually working his way back into the Chelsea setup. The Belgian midfielder spent several months on the sidelines with a muscle injury before recently returning to action. He has already appeared as a substitute in Chelsea’s last two matches against Arsenal and Aston Villa. Those brief appearances were designed to rebuild his match fitness after a lengthy absence in football.
Rosenior made it clear that Lavia will soon play a bigger role in the squad. The manager believes the midfielder’s composure and technical quality can bring better balance to the team. For that reason, Chelsea have taken a measured approach with his recovery, slowly increasing his minutes instead of pushing him too quickly. If his progress continues in the same direction, Lavia could soon be ready to start matches again and become an important figure during the final stretch of the season.
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Deepanjali Bhardwaj
Deepanjali Bhardwaj is the Cricket Editor and a lead analyst for Six Sports. A lifelong student of the game, Deepanjali transitioned from a specialist cricket writer to her current editorial role, where she balances newsroom management with active reporting. Whether she is breaking down IPL auction strategies or providing live match analysis, her dual role as an editor and active contributor ensures that Six Sports’ cricket coverage remains both authoritative and timely.
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