Chilwell, Lavia, Chukwuemeka - Latest Chelsea injury news and return dates for Preston
Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino will be delighted to have received a huge double boost to his squad to kick off 2024 as he prepares for his side to take on Preston North End in the F.A Cup third round.
The Blues have faced the Lilywhites three times in the world's oldest football competition and have won all three, with their last meeting coming in the fourth round back in 2010 when Carlo Ancelotti oversaw a 2-0 win thanks to goals from Daniel Sturridge and Nicolas Anelka.
They'll be full of confidence having won their final two matches of 2023, both scrappy affairs against Crystal Palace and Luton Town and now could soon see the return of two long-term injuries as we delve deeper into the month of January.
With that being said, football.london has the latest from inside the treatment room at Stamford Bridge ahead of Saturday afternoon's clash...
Chukwuemeka picked up a knock ahead of the game with Arsenal in October but was hit by another setback after his knee injury against West Ham in just the second match of the campaign. However, he was pictured back in first team training on Friday morning so a return will soon be on the cards.
What Pochettino said (in December): «Carney. That is another signing for us. That is a player that can be this playmaker we are talking about. He is out and [hasn't] played again. He scored and was doing well.»
Possible return date: January 2024.
Chilwell suffered a knock toward the end of Chelsea's clash with Brighton in the Carabao Cup at the end of September. Unfortunately for the Blues defender, the club quickly realised that the muscle issue was worse than first thought, but he's now returned to full team training alongside Chukwuemeka with the pair spotted doing small group drills.
Wha
Read on football.london
