Chelsea captain Reece James remains a doubt ahead of Friday night’s FA Cup tie against Hull City, with head coach Liam Rosenior confirming a late decision will be made on his availability.
The Blues travel to the MKM Stadium looking to progress in the competition, but fitness concerns continue to shape the squad selection.
The FA Cup clash comes at an important stage of the season, with full fixture and competition details available via the official FA Cup website.
Reece James Still Battling Illness
James missed Tuesday’s 2-2 draw with Leeds United after falling ill. That absence came shortly after he had already sat out two matches due to a minor knock.
The good news is that the knock has healed. The issue now is illness.
Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Rosenior confirmed:
“Reece trained modified [on Wednesday]. He’s still under the weather. We’ll make a decision tomorrow but it’s good that he’s back on the training pitch.
He has had a really bad bug but hopefully he recovers.”
That suggests there is optimism, but no guarantees. Even if James is passed fit, there is every chance he may not start as the manager considers rotation.
Malo Gusto or Josh Acheampong are both options at right-back if James is either unavailable or rested.
Marc Cucurella Ruled Out
There was also concern over Marc Cucurella after he was forced off at half-time against Leeds with a hamstring problem.
At this stage, the full extent of the injury is unclear. Rosenior admitted it is too early to determine the severity following scans and assessments.
“Marc is too early to know. Obviously, he is definitely out for the game against Hull. We’re doing our scans and assessments.”
Cucurella will not feature on Friday night.
Expected Rotation at MKM Stadium
With the FA Cup providing an opportunity to manage minutes, Rosenior is widely expected to ring the changes.
Regular starters such as Joao Pedro, Cole Palmer, and Trevoh Chalobah could be handed a rest. There may also be a goalkeeping change if Robert Sanchez is given a breather.
One exciting development is the expected involvement of Mamadou Sarr, who was recently recalled from his loan spell at Strasbourg. The Senegal international could either start or make his first appearance off the bench.
Confirmed Injuries and Doubts
Injured:
Romeo Lavia, Levi Colwill, Dario Essugo, Marc Cucurella, Jamie Gittens, Filip Jorgensen
Doubts:
Tosin Adarabioyo, Reece James
Chelsea’s injury list remains longer than ideal, but rotation may help manage the workload as the season progresses, especially when you look at our latest Chelsea injury update ahead of Leeds United.
Chelsea Predicted XI vs Hull City (4-2-3-1)
Sanchez;
Gusto, Sarr, Badiashile, Hato;
Caicedo, Santos;
Neto, Estevao, Garnacho;
Delap
This lineup reflects potential rotation while still maintaining enough quality to control the game.
Match Details
Fixture: Hull City vs Chelsea
Competition: FA Cup
Venue: MKM Stadium
Date: Friday, February 13, 2026
Kick-off: 7:45pm GMT
Final Thoughts
The biggest question mark remains Reece James. If he recovers in time, his presence alone brings leadership and stability. However, with illness involved and rotation likely, there is no need to rush him.
This match offers a chance for squad players to step up. The focus must be on getting through to the next round while avoiding further injuries.
Chelsea have enough depth to handle Hull, even with key players sidelined. The challenge now is delivering a professional performance away from home.
Up the Blues 💙
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