Chelsea faces Manchester United on Thursday night as they look to build momentum ahead of the FA Cup final in May. Thomas Tuchel will be looking to secure the fourth trophy of his time as Blues boss, having already secured Champions League, Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup crowns.
Sat third in the Premier League, Chelsea have little to play for in the league while Ralf Rangnick’s Man United still harbour faint hopes of finishing fourth, despite a poor run of form. Regardless of current circumstances, both teams will be desperate to win in a game that has become an iconic part of the Premier League season at Old Trafford.
But who will Tuchel have at his disposal for the clash? Injuries have played havoc at Stamford Bridge this season, and they remain an issue. With that in mind, football.london takes a look at the latest.
Mateo Kovacic and Callum Hudson-Odoi
There is no doubting that the Blues have missed the duo in recent matches, particularly the energy and creativity of Mateo Kovacic in the attacking third of the pitch. There were fears that neither player would be seen again until the 2021-22 campaign, but it appears they may be seen sooner than expected.
While they are yet to return to training, a report from Goal has suggested that they are expected to return to fitness before the end of the campaign. It could potentially hand Tuchel a huge boost for the Blues’ FA Cup final with Liverpool in May.
Reece James
James was left out of the Chelsea side that beat West Ham on Sunday. Tuchel confirmed before the match that the England international was sidelined due to a recurring injury problem.
“It isn’t a new injury or a recurrence of an old injury,” the Blues head coach confirmed. “We checked the medical images, and there is absolutely nothing, but he didn’t feel totally comfortable.
“He felt like something could happen if he took that risk, and we absolutely do not want to have a re-injury, so we have taken the safe route and left him out. Not having Reece is a big loss because of his individual quality and what he brings to the team. It’s a shame not to have him with us today.”
Expected return date: Manchester United (A) – Thursday, April 28
Andreas Christensen
Tuchel confirmed before the match against West Ham that Christensen was struggling with stomach cramps, and that was the reason behind his absence. The Dane hasn’t been in great form for Chelsea recently but could return to the squad for Thursday’s trip to Manchester.
Expected return date: Manchester United (A) – Thursday, April 28
Antonio Rudiger
Some good news on the Rudiger front. The defender, who is set to leave the club at the end of the season, could return to training with his Chelsea teammates on Tuesday ahead of the trip to Manchester United on Thursday. “The plan is for him to return on Tuesday for Thursday,” Tuchel said after the win over West Ham.
Expected return date: Manchester United (A) – Thursday, April 28
Ben Chilwell
Chilwell suffered a cruciate ligament injury in November that is set to keep him out for the rest of the season. Tuchel has suggested that he could make his return to training before the end of the campaign, but a return to first-team action appears unlikely. He has been photographed outside on the training ground pitch doing light work, which positively affects his recovery.
What Tuchel has said: “Ben will be able to join in team training with the youth, this will be his next step in the weeks, and hopefully, he can join our training at the end of the season.”
Expected return: Summer 2022
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