Chelsea welcomed back three players to team training ahead of their upcoming Premier League match against Aston Villa. In addition to Cole Palmer, two long-term absentees are now edging closer to full recovery.
Chelsea Handed Massive Squad Boost Ahead of Aston Villa Clash
A Deciding Set of Fixtures
Chelsea were on an eight-match unbeaten run before the last weekend as they slowly revived their chances of securing a European spot for next season. However, two disappointing defeats against Manchester City and Arsenal have once again put Mauricio Pochettino’s job in imminent danger.
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They will face Aston Villa on Saturday before taking on Tottenham in another mid-week match five days later. With only six Premier League games left to play, the Blues face an uphill battle to close their 13-point gap to Tottenham at the fifth spot.
Pochettino’s side have been dealing with injury issues all season. However, they look set to have three key players back for their final few games of the campaign.
Latest Update From Cobham
According to Evening Standard, Palmer, who missed the 5-0 defeat against Arsenal due to illness, returned to training on Thursday. The former Manchester City star is expected to be available for Chelsea’s trip to Villa Park on Saturday.
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In addition to Palmer, Christopher Nkunku and Reece James also took part in partial team training at the Cobham training ground. Nkunku has stayed out of action with a hamstring injury since late February, while James is recovering after his surgery in December.
Last week, James offered a fitness update on his Instagram account, writing: “I’m in a good place. The comeback is on. [I’m] more hungry than ever; stay well in the meantime, and see you soon.”
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Chelsea Injury List
In addition to Palmer, Nkunku, and James, Pochettino has seven other players on the sidelines. Malo Gusto and Ben Chilwell were added to the injury list after last weekend’s game against Manchester City, with both players struggling with knee issues.
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Lesley Ugochukwu still has a chance to play again this season, but the same is not true for Enzo Fernandez, Romeo Lavia and Wesley Fofana, who are planning to return for the pre-season. Chelsea are expected to have Robert Sanchez and Levi Colwill back in the next few days as they have both rejoined team training in recent days.
