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Chelsea handed triple fitness boost ahead of AC Milan clash

sportsmole.co.uk, 4 October 2022, 14:32
Chelsea FC have been handed a triple fitness boost ahead of their Champions League clash with AC Milan on Wednesday night at Stamford Bridge.

The Blues are fresh off the back of a late comeback win over Crystal Palace thanks to goals from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and former Palace midfielder Conor Gallagher.

Milan also triumphed late at the weekend as they beat Empoli away from home thanks to goals from Ante Rebic, Fode Ballo-Toure and reported Chelsea target Rafael Leao.

Having suffered a surprise defeat away to Dinamo Zagreb and drawn last time out in Graham Potter's first game against Red Bull Salzburg, Chelsea sit bottom of Group E and need a win to kickstart their Champions League campaign.

Potter's side welcomed N'Golo Kante, Edouard Mendy and Marc Cucurella back to training this week, with all three missing the trip to Selhurst Park over the weekend.

Mendy has been recovering from a knee injury and has missed the last three games, with second-choice keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga deputising between the posts.

Cucurella looks to have shaken off the bout of illness which saw him and summer signing Carney Chukwuemeka ruled out of the game at the weekend.

French international Kante has been out of action since the fiery Tottenham Hotspur derby in mid-August and is in the final stages of his recovery from a hamstring injury.

It is unclear whether any of the returning trio will go straight into the starting lineup, but Chelsea can now boast an injury-free squad for the visit of the reigning Serie A champions.

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