Enzo Fernandez, Axel Disasi, Levi Colwill – Chelsea injury news and return dates for Everton clash
All the latest Chelsea injury news and updates ahead of the Blues' clash against Everton, with question marks over Cole Palmer's availability
by Oliver Jones · football.londonChelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino's job ahead of his side's clash against Everton has been made much harder following a series of injury setbacks in the week building up to the bout.
The Blues will welcome the Toffees to Stamford Bridge on Monday evening as either side hopes to climb the Premier League table but Pochettino's men will not be hoping for a repeat of their poor showing against bottom-of-the-league Sheffield United last weekend which saw them twice fail to hold onto the lead.
Everton, meanwhile, enjoyed their first win in their previous 14 league matches as Dominic Calvert-Lewin netted the only goal of the game in a 1-0 victory over struggling Burnley. It was a much-needed three points after the Premier League hit the side with a second points deduction of the season.
The west London outfit have a few tough fixtures coming up - including three of the top five in their next three matches so. With that being said, football.london have taken a look at the latest Chelsea injury news and updates.
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Ben Chilwell
Ben Chilwell was absent from the matchday squad that faced Manchester United and Sheffield United after picking up a knock over the international break in March. The left-back has recently returned to partial first-team training.
Injury: Illness.
What Pochettino has said: "Yes, not only him but I think there are too many players that we miss, we are missing the competition. But in that personal case, Chilly is training, partial training today with the team, and see if he can be involved with the squad, on the bench for Monday. It's good news, but it's true what you say, he has not played too much this season."
Possible return date: Everton (H) - April 15.
Enzo Fernandez
Enzo Fernandez is currently 'undergoing medical assessment', according to the official club website. The 23-year-old midfielder hadn't missed a single club game due to injury before joining Chelsea.
Injury: Unknown.
What Pochettino has said: "Yes, we will see. They are under assessment. They have different types of issues. We don't believe they are big issues but we will see if they can be available. At the moment, they have not trained after Sheffield. We do not know if they can be involved or not for Monday."
Possible return date: Manchester City (N) - FA Cup semi-final - April 20.
Axel Disasi
Axel Disasi is currently 'undergoing medical assessment', according to the official club website. The 26-year-old defender has boasted a brilliant injury record during his career until now.
Injury: Unknown.
What Pochettino has said: "Yes, we will see. They are under assessment. They have different type of issues. We don't believe they are big issues but we will see if they can be available. At the moment, they have not trained after Sheffield. We do not know if they can be involved or not for Monday."
Possible return date: Manchester City (N) - FA Cup semi-final - April 20.
Robert Sanchez
Robert Sanchez is 'absent due to illness', according to the official club website.
Injury: Illness.
Possible return date: Manchester City (N) - FA Cup semi-final - April 20.
Raheem Sterling
Raheem Sterling is 'absent due to illness', according to the official club website.
Injury: Illness.
Possible return date: Manchester City (N) - FA Cup semi-final - April 20.
Levi Colwill
Levi Colwill is 'continuing to undergo his rehabilitation programme', according to the official club website. The 21-year-old defender has been nursing a toe injury which has caused him to miss some big games for Chelsea.
Injury: Toe.
What Pochettino has said: "We only found out after the [Brentford] game. We finished with two players who then couldn't train. Levi's problem is his toe."
Possible return date: Manchester City (N) - FA Cup semi-final - April 20.
Reece James
Reece James is 'continuing to undergo his rehabilitation programme', according to the official club website. The 24-year-old defender has recently begun rehabilitation after undergoing hamstring surgery at the end of last year.
Injury: Hamstring.
What Pochettino has said: "We were talking and he has started his recovery, one day closer to being with the group. This is really positive and we're all positive around him, we are going to help. It's tough for a player with a very complicated and difficult season for him. Now's the process to start to recover and it's one day less until he's part of the group. The most important thing is to start to solve the problem and help him to be strong."
Possible return date: May.
Christopher Nkunku
Christopher Nkunku is 'continuing to undergo his rehabilitation programme', according to the official club website. The 26-year-old forward has been out for most of the season and he's currently out with a hamstring issue.
Injury: Hamstring.
What Pochettino has said: "I don't know [how far away he is]. Still we don't know [if he will play again this season]. To return to training? I don't know what I said. At the moment we do not know when it is possible to start to train with the team. At the moment he is not training with us.
"That setback didn't happen. I have no information about that. He is recovering and it has been longer than we expected. That was after the final, he played 30 or 40 minutes. The problem we didn't know and we found after the game.
"This type of circumstance, it affects loads of things, too many players have suffered this season. I hope he can be involved again as soon as possible in the dynamic of the team and of course, if he should be really, really good before the end of the season, I hope he can be part of the team."
Possible return date: Next season.
Romeo Lavia
Romeo Lavia is 'continuing to undergo his rehabilitation programme', according to the official club website. The 20-year-old midfielder has featured just once for Chelsea this season having struggled to stay match fit and escape injury.
Injury: Thigh.
Possible return date: Next season.
Lesley Ugochukwu
Lesley Ugochukwu is 'continuing to undergo his rehabilitation programme', according to the official club website. The 20-year-old midfielder's last outing came back in December and he's not been seen since with no further update.
Injury: Unknown.
Possible return date: Next season.
Wesley Fofana
Wesley Fofana is 'continuing to undergo his rehabilitation programme', according to the official club website. The 23-year-old defender has returned to training on the pitches at Cobham, but he's still considered a long way from returning to action.
Injury: Ruptured anterior cruciate ligament.
What Pochettino has said: "Unfortunately, I think it is difficult to see Wes playing this season, but you never know."
Possible return date: Next season.