As Chelsea’s form began to fall away in the opening months of 2025, a number of key players were forced to be sidelined due to injury.
The Blues lost both first team strikers in Nicolas Jackson and Marc Guiu to the same game on deadline day, meaning they were unable to move for some of their January transfer targets such as Liam Delap.
A number of defenders have also missed plenty of games of late, however Enzo Maresca has been able to welcome them back to action recently.
Wesley Fofana impressed in his return, while Trevoh Chalobah and Benoit Badiashile started in the Conference League first leg against Copenhagen.
Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images
Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images
Noni Madueke spotted on training pitch after injury
Noni Madueke was also added to the injury list after pulling up in the league game against Aston Villa, leaving the Blues a little short of options on the wings with Mykhailo Mudryk remaining unavailable for selection.
Maresca stated Madueke would return after the internationals, with Chelsea having one more Premier League game against Arsenal before they have nearly two weeks.
The Blues will also be hoping to welcome Nicolas Jackson back at this point too, with the attack lacking plenty since the two have been missing.
However, there was good news regarding the England international that was seen during the Chelsea U18’s defeat to Arsenal.
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In the background, Madueke could be seen working on the pitch with youngster Dujuan Richards, as he gets closer to his first team comeback.
Fwiw, you could see Madueke doing individual ball work on the 1st team training pitch in the background of the U18s game.
Also Dujuan Richards doing the same on an academy pitch nearby as he continues to recover from an ACL injury at the end of last season
— Felix (@FelixJohnston_) March 11, 2025
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Cole Palmer desperately missing Madueke
One of the key points from Chelsea’s poor run of form has been Cole Palmer’s inability to find the net after his brilliant start to life in West London.
After a lengthy dry spell, Palmer missed his first penalty as a senior player against Leicester at Stamford Bridge, only adding to his woes.
Palmer and Madueke topped the stats for most chances created for each other in the Premier League, and their linkup is something the star man has missed in recent weeks.
With huge games to come after the international break, Chelsea will need all of their key players fit and firing, and this includes a returning Madueke.