Latest Chelsea injury news as nine miss Preston with Romeo Lavia worry and Wesley Fofana update
Chelsea ended 2023 with a win and brushed off a few demons along the way but very little was settled at Kenilworth Road. Mauricio Pochettino cut a frustrated figure on the touchline, Thiago Silva embodied that on the pitch and the fans were left wondering just how a comfortable 3-0 became clinging on for dear life.
Now there is a new year ahead of Chelsea and some of the scares can wear off as things pass over. Entering 2024 the Blues are on a run of four wins in five with no defeat at Stamford Bridge in two months. With seven games coming up in January there is a chance to really kick on.
Pochettino's men face Championship opposition three times in cup competitions as well as two league clashes against sides below them in the table as well. Other than Liverpool on January 31 the next seven games look entirely winnable and the hope is that the squad will be stronger for the tougher tests to come.
Enzo Fernandez returned ahead of schedule for the win over Luton on Saturday as he came off the bench to try and see the game out. Unfortunately it was one-in-one-out in midfield as Romeo Lavia missed out. The teenager only made his debut last week against Crystal Palace, playing 30 minutes as a substitute, but picked up a knock.
Pochettino said that the club were assessing Lavia ahead of the game after he was struggling to run towards the end of the Palace clash. Just how fit he will be in the coming days and weeks is uncertain but for someone that has spent the past six months recovering and suffering setbacks it is not a good sign.
Also out from midfield is Lesley Ugochukwu. He picked up a reoccurrence of a hamstring strain that put him out earlier this season after being taken off on Christmas Eve at Wolves. He was forced back
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