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

This game comes just three days on from the EFL Cup final with Liverpool that went to extra time, the Blues suffering an agonising defeat courtesy of a 118th-minute goal from Virgil van Dijk.

However, with Chelsea viewing this competition as a priority to try to secure European football for next season, Mauricio Pochettino must find a way to successfully negotiate this tie against the Championship outfit with a team full of tired players and a lengthy injury list.

Here, Sports Mole rounds up Chelsea's latest injury and suspension news ahead of the contest with Daniel Farke's in-form side.

Thiago Silva

Status: Major doubt

Type of injury: Groin

Possible return date: February 28 (vs. Leeds)

Thiago Silva has missed the last two matches with the groin issue that he sustained against Crystal Palace on February 12. Although a return cannot be ruled out, it appears highly likely that he will remain absent for this fixture.

Carney Chukwuemeka

Status: Minor doubt

Type of injury: Ankle

Possible return date: February 28 (vs. Leeds)

Carney Chukwuemeka twisted his ankle during training earlier this month and has subsequently missed the last two matches. Pochettino will hope that the midfielder has recovered sufficiently enough to take his place back in the squad.

Benoit Badiashile

Status: Out

Type of injury: Groin

Possible return date: March 11 (vs. Newcastle United)

Benoit Badiashile is nursing a groin problem and has subsequently missed the last three games, with the Frenchman not expected to return to action until the middle of next month at the earliest.

Wesley Fofana

Status: Out

Type of injury: Knee

Possible return date: Unknown

Wesley Fofana is yet to make a single appearance for Chelsea this season due to a long-term knee injury and the defender is facing a race against time to return before the end of the campaign.

Reece James

Status: Out

Type of injury: Hamstring

Possible return date: Unknown

Reece James underwent hamstring surgery just before Christmas and it remains to be seen whether the Chelsea captain will recover before the end of the season.

Romeo Lavia

Status: Out

Type of injury: Thigh

Possible return date: Unknown

Romeo Lavia, who has made just one substitute appearance since joining Chelsea last summer, is still recovering from a thigh injury that has kept him sidelined since the end of last year, and there is currently no timescale on his potential return.

Lesley Ugochukwu

Status: Out

Type of injury: Hamstring

Possible return date: Unknown

Lesley Ugochukwu sustained a hamstring injury in the loss to Wolverhampton Wanderers on Christmas Eve and it remains unknown as to when the midfielder could return to the first-team fold.

Marc Cucurella

Status: Out

Type of injury: Ankle

Possible return date: Unknown

Marc Cucurella last played for Chelsea in an away win at Everton in early December in which he sustained an ankle injury that required surgery. The left-back has since been pictured in light-training, though, and it is thought that he is targeting a return at some stage next month.

CHELSEA'S SUSPENSION LIST

Chelsea have no suspended players for this match. However, Cesare Casadei remains unavailable courtesy of having already represented Leicester City in this competition earlier in the season.