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Chelsea team news: Injury, suspension list vs. Middlesbrough

sportsmole.co.uk, 20 January 2024, 09:30
Chelsea will be bidding to overturn a 1-0 first-leg deficit when they welcome Middlesbrough to Stamford Bridge for the second leg of their EFL Cup semi-final on Tuesday night.

Hayden Hackney scored the only goal of the match, as Michael Carrick's side beat Chelsea by a single goal in the first leg of their last-four contest on January 9.

Mauricio Pochettino's side will now be looking to use home advantage to navigate their way into the final, and the capital giants will enter the match off the back of a 1-0 win over Fulham in the Premier League.

Here, Sports Mole rounds up Chelsea's latest injury and suspension news ahead of their clash with Middlesbrough, who sit 10th in the Championship table.

Christopher Nkunku

Status: Out

Type of injury: Hip

Possible return date: Unknown

Nkunku has only just returned from a serious knee injury, which delayed his Chelsea debut until December 24, but he is now suffering with a hip problem, and he will again miss out here.

Wesley Fofana

Status: Out

Type of injury: Knee

Possible return date: Unknown

Fofana is not expected to be available for selection until next season, with the centre-back being forced to undergo an operation on a severe knee injury over the summer.

Trevoh Chalobah

Status: Out

Type of injury: Thigh

Possible return date: Unknown

Chalobah is still struggling to overcome a thigh problem, and the centre-back will again be unavailable for selection against Middlesbrough.

Lesley Ugochukwu

Status: Out

Type of injury: Hamstring

Possible return date: Unknown

Ugochukwu suffered a hamstring injury during Chelsea's loss to Wolverhampton Wanderers last month, and the midfielder is not expected to be back until February.

Reece James

Status: Out

Type of injury: Hamstring

Possible return date: Unknown

James is currently on the sidelines recovering from a hamstring operation, and it is unlikely that the Chelsea captain will be back on the field until the end of March.

Robert Sanchez

Status: Out

Type of injury: Knee

Possible return date: January 31 (vs. Liverpool)

Sanchez remains unavailable due to a knee injury, but the club's number one goalkeeper has a chance of being available for selection for the clash with Liverpool at the end of the month.

Marc Cucurella

Status: Out

Type of injury: Ankle

Possible return date: March 2 (vs. Brentford)

Cucurella is currently battling his way back from a severe ankle problem, and it is unlikely that the Spaniard will be available until the start of March.

Romeo Lavia

Status: Out

Type of injury: Thigh

Possible return date: Unknown

Lavia made his Chelsea debut in December against Crystal Palace after recovering from an ankle issue, but the summer arrival is currently out with a thigh problem.

Nicolas Jackson

Status: Out

Reason of absence: International duty

Possible return date: Unknown

Jackson is representing Senegal at the Africa Cup of Nations, so the striker will not be available for selection until his country have been knocked out or the competition has finished.

CHELSEA'S SUSPENSION LIST

Chelsea have no players suspended for this match.

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