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Chelsea team news: Injury, suspension list vs. Manchester United

sportsmole.co.uk, 4 December 2023, 07:15
Fresh from an increasingly rare home victory in the Premier League, Chelsea return to the road to tackle Manchester United at Old Trafford on Wednesday evening.

The Blues emerged victorious from a five-goal thriller with Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday, where a pair of Enzo Fernandez efforts and a Levi Colwill header proved decisive.

Mauricio Pochettino's men have leapfrogged West London rivals Brentford into 10th place in the table ahead of their reunion with old foes Man United, who have not pulled up trees either this season.

Here, Sports Mole rounds up Chelsea's latest injury and suspension news ahead of their clash with the Red Devils, who were deservedly beaten 1-0 by Newcastle United last time out.

Malo Gusto

Status: Major doubt

Type of injury: Tendon

Possible return date: December 6 (vs. Man United)

Malo Gusto was again unavailable for Chelsea during their contest with Brighton owing to a tendon problem, and the right-back is facing a race against time to prove his fitness for the journey to Old Trafford.

Ben Chilwell

Status: Out

Type of injury: Hamstring

Possible return date: Unknown

Ben Chilwell has helplessly watched on from the sidelines for several weeks due to his hamstring injury, and it is still unclear when the left-back might be deemed ready for first-team duties again.

Christopher Nkunku

Status: Major doubt

Type of injury: Knee

Possible return date: December 6 (vs. Man United)

Pochettino decided against risking Christopher Nkunku for the clash with Brighton as the Frenchman completes the final stages of his recovery from a knee injury, but he is in with a fighting chance of making the squad at Old Trafford.

Wesley Fofana

Status: Out

Type of injury: Knee

Possible return date: Unknown

On the other hand, the hapless Wesley Fofana will be consigned to the treatment room for another several months with an ACL injury, which could render him unavailable for the rest of the campaign.

Trevoh Chalobah

Status: Out

Type of injury: Thigh

Possible return date: Unknown

In the middle of October, Chelsea revealed that Trevoh Chalobah had to take a step back in his recovery from a thigh problem due to complications, and the defender remains unavailable for selection at this juncture.

Carney Chukwuemeka

Status: Out

Type of injury: Knee

Possible return date: Unknown

Carney Chukwuemeka also suffered a setback in his rehabilitation from a knee problem a couple of months ago, and the ex-Aston Villa youngster remains in the care of the medical team for the foreseeable future.

Romeo Lavia

Status: Major doubt

Type of injury: Ankle

Possible return date: December 6 (vs. Man United)

Similar to Nkunku, Romeo Lavia was also overlooked for his long-awaited debut at the weekend despite almost shaking off his ankle problem, and the Belgian midfielder will need careful assessment in the coming hours to determine whether he is ready for his baptism at Old Trafford.

Marcus Bettinelli

Status: Out

Type of injury: Unspecified

Possible return date: Unknown

Backup goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli has been away from the first team for some time due to an unspecified injury, which will also prevent him from making the squad this time around.

CHELSEA'S SUSPENSION LIST

Conor Gallagher

Return date: December 10 (vs. Everton)

Reece James and Marc Cucurella will both return from one-game bans this week, but captain Conor Gallagher must now serve his own suspension, having been dismissed for two bookable offences against the Seagulls.

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