Forward Christopher Nkunku is once more sidelined for Chelsea(Image: Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)

Full Chelsea squad vs Fulham with Christopher Nkunku latest and Ben Chilwell update

Chelsea injury news as Mauricio Pochettino set to take a step towards ideal Blues XI but left without key piece against Fulham

13 Jan 2024, 07:59 by Tom Coley · football.london

It remains a case of one step forward and two steps back for Mauricio Pochettino not just one the field but also off it. His Chelsea side are looking to move up to their highest league position in well over a year when they face Fulham on Saturday but will have to do so with a still depleted squad.

Pochettino's men can climb up to seventh with a win, overtaking Manchester United and Brighton over the winter break and ahead of the weekend's other fixtures. That would, for the time being, put them just three points off sixth placed West Ham and within range of the top four at least for now.

However he will have to do it, once more, without a set of key players. Not only is the volume of absent players high but also the calibre too. Speaking ahead of the game he admitted that things with Christopher Nkunku, specifically, just aren't going to plan.

"I do worry about the situation of Nkunku," he said. "I think it's now [been] 10 days he cannot train. We are assessing him. We don't know what's going to happen.

"I remember my press conference after this happened. It was a small issue and it complicated and it's been between eight and 10 days [since he trained]. We were waiting for him for six months and he was so close again to feeling comfortable. He started the game against Palace and of course, disappointed with that. We want him as quick as possible to be involved again."

Nkunku is set to miss his first league game since returning before the New Year but also didn't play in either cup clash against Preston or away to Middlesbrough. He and Romeo Lavia remain out once again for Chelsea.

Meanwhile there was a good piece of news to carry into the game that comes at a timely point in the season. "Yes, good news about [Ben] Chilwell and Ben [Badiashile]," Pochettino said after they both continued to be in full team training. The duo are expected to make the bench on Saturday.

"Also the good news is that Trevoh Chalobah has started to work with the group," Pochettino added. The 24-year-old doesn't look ready just yet but will provide extra cover at the back when he is available. "We need to assess day by day to see if he can help us. But he doing well," Pochettino added. "He's been training now with the group."

Pochettino couldo also add Carney Chukwuemeka to his team. "We need to assess Carney if he will be available or not," the 51-year-old explained. "But Chilly and Benoit I think yes, for sure, they will be involved in the squad for tomorrow.

Robert Sanchez is still out so expect the bench to have two goalkeepers on it once more. Meanwhile, the departure of Ian Maatsen on loan to Borussia Dortmund means that Alfie Gilchrist may well keep his place in the squad too.

Nicolas Jackson is at the African Cup of Nations so Armando Broja and Deivid Washington are likely to be the forwards leading the line. The other options should remain the same with the only youth involvement at this stage likely to be Gilchrist as Leo Castledine was selected to play for the development team on Friday.

Here's what the matchday 20 could look like at Stamford Bridge.

Goalkeepers: Djordje Petrovic, Marcus Bettinelli, Lucas Bergstrom

Defenders: Malo Gusto, Axel Disasi, Thiago Silva, Levi Colwill, Benoit Badiashile, Ben Chilwell, Alfie Gilchrist

Midfielders: Enzo Fernandez, Conor Gallagher, Moises Caicedo, Carney Chukwuemeka,

Attackers: Raheem Sterling, Noni Madueke, Mykhailo Mudryk, Armando Broja, Cole Palmer, Deivid Washington

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