Chelsea head coach, Mauricio Pochettino faces the prospect of being without three more players for today’s Premier League fixture at Arsenal.
The Blues are back in top-flight action just three days after losing 1-0 to Manchester City in the FA Cup semifinals on Saturday evening.
Having missed out on a second successive domestic cup final this campaign, Chelsea’s hopes of European qualification are dependent on how they fare during the back end of the Premier League season.
Rather than having any further issues ahead of the short trip across the capital, Pochettino would have hoped that the club’s injury issues were reducing.
Christopher Nkunku has been joined by Robert Sanchez and Lesley Ugochukwu in returning to partial training in recent days, albeit likely too late to come into contention for the fixture at the Emirates Stadium.
However, in the club’s latest official injury update on Monday, Chelsea revealed that Malo Gusto, Ben Chilwell and Cole Palmer had been added to the list of fitness doubts ahead of facing the title contenders.
Palmer was carrying some sort of issue during the City encounter, but the playmaker is down as having been ill in the days since that defeat.
Gusto had to be withdrawn during the second half and will not feature against Arsenal, while Chilwell picked up a problem during his late substitute appearance.
Those two players are described as ‘undergoing medical assessment’ ahead of Pochettino making decisions over his selection for this contest.
At his pre-match press conference, Pochettino was immediately questioned on the availability of Palmer, the Argentine hinting that he expects the England international to miss out.
He told reporters: “We need to assess tomorrow morning (Monday). Today, I don’t think he can be involved, but we need to assess him. Even if he is good tomorrow (today), maybe he is not in the condition to play.”
Meanwhile, Pochettino having both left Wembley contending with knee issues has ruled out Gusto and Chilwell.
“Malo suffer a minor injury to the ligament of his knee. I am not doctor, but you ask me. We hope it is not a big issue. Chilly also, after the national team, it is the same problem that he suffered in the last few weeks.”
Axel Disasi is expected to replace Gusto at right-back, while Mykhaylo Mudryk or Raheem Sterling will be chosen as the alternative to Palmer, providing that he misses out.