Chelsea have issued an injury update ahead of their Premier League meeting with Bournemouth. The Blues could have up to eight players absent for the clash, but Mauricio Pochettino will still have a strong team to choose from.
Chelsea will be without Mykhailo Mudryk, Reece James and Ben Chilwell, despite the latter recently returning from a lengthy knee injury. The 27-year-old was forced off in Chelsea’s 2-1 win over Brighton & Hove Albion and might not make the squad against Bournemouth now.
Mudryk suffered concussion against Brighton after getting struck in the face by Tariq Lamptey. The 23-year-old will be left out of the matchday squad as per club protocol on head injuries. James is fit to play but was given a straight red card for violent conduct against Albion, so he’ll also miss out.
Chelsea gave an update on their other absentees, revealing that Carney Chukwuemeka is in team training. Robert Sanchez is continuing to undergo his reconditioning programme, so Djordje Petrovic should keep his place.
Enzo Fernandez is also continuing to undergo his rehabilitation programme, so he won’t feature against Bournemouth. Wesley Fofana has been out for some time and continues to work on his rehabilitation. The same is true for Romeo Lavia too, as he’s had bad luck with injuries this season. He’s working on his rehabilitation and looking to return strong in 2024/25.
Without James against Bournemouth, Malo Gusto and Trevoh Cahlobah are options at right-back. Without Chilwell at left-back, Marc Cucurella should keep his place. Without Lavia and Fernandez, Moises Caicedo and Conor Gallagher should make up the midfield. And without Mudryk, Pochettino has Noni Madueke and Raheem Sterling who can play out wide.
Chukwuemeka, Christopher Nkunku and Lesley Ugochukwu should all make the matchday squad on Sunday, so that’s a positive. Chelsea’s injury list is finally dwindling and some long-term absentees are coming back.
Pochettino won’t risk an injury setback on the final day of the season, so some players might not get any minutes.
