Chelsea handed triple fitness blow ahead of Newcastle United game

On the back of three matches in less than a week, the Blues are now in the middle of a nine-game break ahead of a showdown with the Magpies.

Given the amount of injuries suffered in Mauricio Pochettino's squad this campaign, the Argentine will have welcomed the extended period on the training pitch.

Nevertheless, the West Londoners revealed on Thursday that Colwill, Chilwell and Gallagher are all struggling with separate issues.

In a fitness update issued by the club, it stated that Chilwell was 'undergoing specialist medical treatment', while Colwill is 'beginning a rehabilitation programme'.

Speaking at a press conference, Pochettino disclosed that Chilwell has suffered a knee injury and that Colwill has an issue with his toe, ruling both players out of the next game.

When pushed on his feeling over Chilwell's injury, Pochettino told reporters: "We need to wait until he sees the specialist. I cannot go in advance. I hope it's not a big issue but after eight or nine months here at the club, I prefer to wait."

Pochettino also revealed that Gallagher, who has started all but one of Chelsea's Premier League fixtures this season, had been suffering with a virus.

While the two days extra of preparation time can only aid the England international's bid to be fit, Pochettino hinted that he was pessimistic about the midfielder's involvement.

He added: "He is not here in the last three days we were training. We will see tomorrow or Saturday if he can have the possibility to train. The problem is you lose weight and the energy is down.

Although Carney Chukwuemeka is ready to join team training, Pochettino said at the media briefing that he did not expect any of his injured players to return to the squad.

Reece James, Wesley Fofana, Benoit Badiashile, Romeo Lavia, Lesley Ugochukwu and Christopher Nkunku are the other names currently unavailable for Chelsea.

Chelsea already sit six points adrift of seventh-placed West Ham United in the Premier League standings, albeit with a game in hand, and face the prospect of that margin being extended courtesy of their next game being the last of the upcoming matchday.