Chelsea team news: Injury, suspension list vs. Brighton & Hove Albion

The Blues were dismantled 4-1 by Newcastle United in their most recent affair, where Anthony Gordon, Joelinton, Jamaal Lascelles and Alexander Isak rendered a sweetly-struck Raheem Sterling free kick meaningless.

Still embroiled in the throes of mid-table, Mauricio Pochettino's men enter the weekend sat in 10th place and are closer to the relegation zone than the Champions League spots points-wise.

Here, Sports Mole rounds up Chelsea's latest injury and suspension news ahead of their clash with Brighton, who face AEK Athens in the Europa League on Thursday night.

Malo Gusto

Status: Major doubt

Type of injury: Tendon

Possible return date: December 3 (vs. Brighton)

Malo Gusto sustained a tendon problem during the international break and was not fit to face Newcastle, but Pochettino will be desperate to have the Frenchman back at his disposal for the weekend.

Ben Chilwell

Status: Out

Type of injury: Hamstring

Possible return date: December 10 (vs. Everton)

The hapless Ben Chilwell is on the road to recovery from yet another hamstring injury, although there is hope that the left-back might be back in the fold before Christmas.

Christopher Nkunku

Status: Out

Type of injury: Knee

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

Christopher Nkunku is slowly being integrated into training as he enters the final phase of his recovery from a knee injury, but it will be another couple of weeks at least before the Frenchman can make his long-awaited competitive debut.

Wesley Fofana

Status: Out

Type of injury: Knee

Possible return date: Unknown

Wesley Fofana, whose fledgling career has been blighted by injuries, underwent an operation on an ACL injury over the summer and is battling to be fit before the end of the campaign.

Trevoh Chalobah

Status: Out

Type of injury: Thigh

Possible return date: Unknown

Few updates have been given on Trevoh Chalobah since he suffered a setback in his recuperation from a thigh injury last month, and the defender - who is being heavily linked with a January exit - will miss out again here.

Carney Chukwuemeka

Status: Out

Type of injury: Knee

Possible return date: Unknown

Similarly, Carney Chukwuemeka was making strides in his recovery from a knee problem before aggravating the issue, and there is no telling when he might be back in the first-team picture.

Romeo Lavia

Status: Out

Type of injury: Ankle

Possible return date: December 16 (vs. Sheffield United)

Summer signing Romeo Lavia will not make his debut for the Blues just yet owing to his troublesome ankle injury, but a comeback in December is not beyond the realm of possibility.

Marcus Bettinelli

Status: Out

Type of injury: Unspecified

Possible return date: Unknown

Goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli has been a long-term absentee with an unspecified injury, and Pochettino will again make do without one of his backup stoppers here.

CHELSEA'S SUSPENSION LIST

Reece James

Return date: December 6 (vs. Manchester United)

Reece James was made to take the walk of shame at St James' Park for two bookable offences, and the Chelsea captain will serve a one-game ban this weekend before returning for the midweek showdown with Manchester United.

Marc Cucurella

Return date: December 6 (vs. Manchester United)

A few minutes after James's dismissal last weekend, Marc Cucurella was booked for the fifth time in the Premier League this season, meaning that Pochettino will be forced into a pair of full-back alterations this weekend.