João Pedro, Enzo Fernández & Estêvão Willianplaceholder image
João Pedro, Enzo Fernández & Estêvão Willian | Getty Images
The latest Chelsea team news and injury updates ahead of their midweek Premier League match against Brighton & Hove Albion.
Chelsea won’t have long to regroup following their frustrating 1-0 loss to Manchester United on Saturday evening, and will be back in Premier League action on Tuesday evening with an away game against Brighton & Hove Albion – but the Blues’ hopes of avoiding a fifth consecutive top-flight defeat could be hampered by several significant new injury issues.
João Pedro unexpectedly missed the match against United through injury, while both Enzo Fernández and Estêvão Willian were forced off during the match – with the trio now among eight first-team players who are either out or doubts for the midweek game against Brighton.
With kick-off fast approaching and Chelsea’s hopes of securing a Champions League spot in the balance, we’ve collected all of the latest injury news below, along with the stricken players’ expected return dates when available.
Will João Pedro and Enzo Fernández be fit to face Brighton?
Brazilian forward João Pedro missed out against Manchester United after picking up a thigh injury during training last week, and was ultimately forced to watch the match from the stands as a result.
His chances of being involved against his former club Brighton look high, however, with head coach Liam Rosenior telling the media after the United game that João Pedro had been “touch and go” ahead of kick-off, adding that he would “we’ll hopefully have him back” in time for Tuesday’s match. As it stands, the 24-year-old is expected to be involved in at least some capacity and could take his starting place back from Liam Delap.
There is less clarity on the likelihood that midfielder Enzo Fernández plays. The Argentine was taken off with two minutes of normal time remaining on Saturday after an apparent calf injury. The extent of the problem has not yet been revealed, although Rosenior was optimistic in the immediate aftermath of the match.
“'I’m hoping it's cramp,” Rosenior said. “He’s getting work on it right now because we want him, obviously, fit for Tuesday.”
Fernández had only returned to the starting side on Saturday after he was suspended by the club for two matches due to comments made to the media by the midfielder which suggested that he wanted to move to Real Madrid this summer. As it stands, he appears to be a relatively minor doubt for the match against Brighton.
Chelsea’s Estêvão Willian set for lay-off after hamstring injury
There’s less positive news concerning the health of Brazilian wonderkid Estêvão Willian, who went off early in the first half against Manchester United after sustaining a hamstring injury.
Rosenior told the press that the teenager was “crying” at half-time after the injury, and while a full prognosis and timeline has not yet been provided, initial reports suggest that it is a serious issue and one which could easily sideline him for the remainder of the Premier League season. There certainly seem to be little chance that he will be available on Tuesday evening.
Among the other players expected to be at least a couple of weeks away from a return are club captain Reece James, winger Jamie Gittens (both hamstring) and goalkeeper Filip Jörgensen (groin), who are all targeting a return in early May with every chance that all three are able to play some part before the end of the campaign.
There is also growing optimism that Levi Colwill could return before the end of the season after he continued his recovering from a ruptured ACL by playing for an hour in a behind-closed-doors friendly with Chelsea’s Under-21s on Friday. Rosenior has told the media that the club expect to be cautious as they ease him back into first-team action and there are no indications that he is ready to face former loan side Brighton this week, but a May comeback remains on the cards.
Fellow centre-back Trevoh Chalobah made his return from injury after coming off the bench against United on Saturday and could push for a start against Brighton, but Mykhaylo Mudryk remains suspended due to an alleged doping violation.
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