After drawing their last three games, Chelsea will look to return to winning ways when they travel to Germany to face Borussia Dortmund in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie on Tuesday.
With the Blues currently 10 points adrift of the Premier League top four, they may have to win the Champions League if they are to compete in the competition next season.
After taking over from Thomas Tuchel in September, Graham Potter has won all five European games that he has taken charge of, and he will be hoping to continue that run against Dortmund.
Here, Sports Mole rounds up Chelsea’s latest injury and suspension news ahead of the meeting with the Bundesliga club, who have won all six of their competitive games in 2023.
Raheem Sterling
© Reuters
Status: Major doubt
Type of injury: Knock
Possible return date: February 14 (vs. West Ham)
Raheem Sterling was absent from the matchday squad on Saturday after picking up a knock in training, and he remains a doubt for Tuesday’s contest.
Wesley Fofana
© Reuters
Status: Major doubt
Type of injury: Knee
Possible return date: February 11 (vs. West Ham)
Wesley Fofana has been in the treatment room for the majority of the season, and although he has recently returned to training, the defender is unlikely to feature at Signal Iduna Park on Tuesday.
Denis Zakaria
Status: Major doubt
Type of injury: Thigh
Possible return date: February 11 (vs. West Ham)
Denis Zakaria has ruled out for four weeks when he picked up a thigh injury in the defeat to Fulham on January 12, and he may have an outside chance of returning in time for the trip to Germany.
Mateo Kovacic
Status: Major doubt
Type of injury: Calf
Possible return date: February 11 (vs. West Ham)
Mateo Kovacic has recently returned to training, but there is some doubt as to whether he will be ready in time for the first leg.
Christian Pulisic
Status: Out
Type of injury: Knee
Possible return date: March 4 (vs. Leeds United)
Christian Pulisic sustained a knee injury in Chelsea’s Premier League defeat to Manchester City last month, and as a result, he will be unable to play against his former side this week, although he will be hoping to return in time for the second leg.
N’Golo Kante
Status: Out
Type of injury: Hamstring
Possible return date: March 4 (vs. Leeds United)
Having been sidelined since September, Kante is expected to step up his recovery and return to team training in the near future, but there is no push to rush him back.
Armando Broja
Status: Out
Type of injury: Knee
Possible return date: Unknown
Armanda Broja suffered a serious knee injury in a mid-season friendly against Aston Villa, which will keep him out for the rest of the season.
Edouard Mendy
Status: Out
Type of injury: Finger
Possible return date: Unknown
No timeframe has been put on Edouard Mendy’s recovery as the goalkeeper recovers from having surgery on a fractured finger.
CHELSEA’S SUSPENSION LIST
Chelsea have no players suspended for this match.
SOURCE: sportsmole.co.uk
