Christopher Nkunku, Ben Chilwell - Latest Chelsea injury news and return dates ahead of Preston

Mauricio Pochettino is set to be without at least 10 Chelsea players as the Blues prepare to face Preston in the FA Cup third round

Chelsea have been dealt a fresh injury blow ahead of their FA Cup third round tie against Preston North End today. The Blues will be without at least 10 players for the game at Stamford Bridge as they look to progress into the fourth round.

Mauricio Pochettino confirmed that Ben Chilwell, Carney Chukwuemeka, Romeo Lavia, Benoit Badiashile and Christopher Nkunku will not be selected against Preston. Nkunku has suffered a problem this week and will not be risked on Saturday afternoon.

Despite returning to first team training this week, Chilwell and Chukwuemeka will also miss out. With that being said, football.london has the latest from inside the treatment room at Stamford Bridge ahead of Saturday afternoon's clash...

Christopher Nkunku

Christopher Nkunku has suffered yet another injury problem and will not feature against Preston. Pochettino confirmed the Frenchman will not be selected this afternoon.

What Pochettino said: "I am going to tell you Christoph [Nkunku] is not going to start tomorrow as he suffered issues during the week but he is going to be in the squad. We need to be careful with him."

Possible return date: January 2024

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Romeo Lavia

When he joined the Blues back in August, Lavia was kept out of the matchday squads due to a match fitness problem before suffering an ankle issue in October. The Belgian international made his debut against Crystal Palace two weeks ago but picked up a knock in the process, and could miss out this weekend after being absent for the trip to Luton Town.

What Pochettino said: "We need to assess Mudryk and then Romeo Lavia also. He feels something, some issue. We need to check and hope it’s not [bad]. I'm a little bit worried. I don't know, because if you were watching the game [against Crystal Palace] you cannot appreciate I was changing the position with Lavia at the end because he was struggling to run. We will see what is going on."

"I really believe in my players, it's only the circumstances, we need to recover the players that are injured. We have some setback with players like Romeo Lavia, who was involved last game but cannot be involved today."

Possible return date: January 2024.

Ben Chilwell

Chilwell suffered a knock toward the end of Chelsea's clash with Brighton in the Carabao Cup at the end of September. Fortunately for the Blues, he's now returned to full team training alongside Carney Chukwuemeka with the pair spotted doing small group drills.

What Pochettino said: "Chilwell and Carney are not available for tomorrow. We will see for the next game, Middlesbrough or Fulham. They are doing well, we are happy with their evolution."

Possible return date: January 2024.

Carney Chukwuemeka

Chukwuemeka picked up a knock ahead of the game with Arsenal in October but was hit by another setback after his knee injury against West Ham in just his second match of the campaign. However, he was pictured back in first team training on Friday morning so a return will soon be on the cards.

What Pochettino said: "Chilwell and Carney are not available for tomorrow. We will see for the next game, Middlesbrough or Fulham. They are doing well, we are happy with their evolution."

Possible return date: January 2024.

Lesley Ugochukwu

Ugochukwu started against Wolves on Christmas Eve but was subbed off after injuring his hamstring. He missed out against Crystal Palace and also against Luton.

What Pochettino has said: "With Lesley, we will assess him tomorrow, but I think he felt his hamstring again. I said in the press conference it is important how we reintroduce players, but we were forced because of the problem with Moises [Caicedo] to play Lesley."

Possible return date: Unknown

Reece James

After only recently returning from the treatment room, James is back on the sidelines with another hamstring injury which he suffered against Everton. James is now set for another lengthy period out.

What Pochettino has said: "I think he feels well. We were talking and he has started his recovery, he is one day closer to being with the group. This is really positive, we are all positive around him, we are going to help, involved in this way.

"It is always tough for a player with a very complicated, difficult season for him. Now is the process to start to recover. One day less until he is part of the group and we are going to take in a positive way because the most important thing is to start to solve the problem and of course, helping him to be strong, being positive.

"It is an important thing and that is why this amazing institute that the club has to support in that case for Reece to be in his best form and recover as soon as possible."

Possible return date: March/April 2024

Robert Sanchez

The goalkeeper suffered a knee injury in the 2-1 defeat to Manchester United but was passed fit to feature against Everton three days later. However, after going down injured in the second-half, Sanchez aggravated the injury and was taken off, eventually replaced by Djordje Petrovic. He has not played since.

What Pochettino said: "I think always when you suffer an injury and he was our No.1 goalkeeper so far, always a player you are going to miss. I think we have another goalkeeper who is working really hard to be ready, when this type of thing happens..

"It is an injury that’s going to be for a few weeks, I don’t know if two, three, four, five or six. We will assess day-by-day to know how to follow it. His recovery will depend on him and the reaction of his knee and it is difficult to say in two or three weeks but we hope [he is back] as soon as possible."

Possible return date: January 2024

Marc Cucurella

The left-back provided an update on his injury via social media in mid-December, with two photos showing off the cast on his left ankle. Cucurella now seems to be walking on crutches as he, slowly but surely, steps up his rehabilitation.

What Cucurella said: "Time to come back stronger!"

Possible return date: Unknown

Trevoh Chalobah

Chalobah has been nursing a thigh injury and is still yet to feature for Chelsea this season. He has now returned to training on the grass – but not with his teammates yet, it seems. Noni Madueke has now dropped a hint that Chalobah may be close to returning with an Instagram story showing the defender individually working on the grass with the ball.

What Pochettino said: N/A

Possible return date: Unknown

Wesley Fofana

Fofana is set to miss most of the season after rupturing his ACL in pre-season training. In spite of this, he's returned to training on the pitches at Cobham. He has sent a small update on his work towards a return, posting online on New Year's Eve from the training ground: "No day off [brain emoji]."

Possible return date: April 2024

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