Chelsea head coach Graham Potter has been dealt a fresh injury blow regarding right-back Reece James ahead of their Premier League clash away against Nottingham Forest on New Year's Day.
After missing the World Cup due to a knee injury, James was named in the starting lineup for Chelsea's 2-0 win over Bournemouth on Tuesday, but the 23-year-old suffered a recurrence of the same problem and was withdrawn in the 53rd minute.
James will now miss the trip to the City Ground and is ruled out for up to a month, joining Armando Broja (ACL), N'Golo Kante, Ben Chilwell (both hamstring), Wesley Fofana (knee) and Ruben Loftus-Cheek (calf) on the treatment table.
Chelsea captain Cesar Azpilicueta is the most likely candidate to start at right-back in James's absence, joining Kalidou Koulibaly, Thiago Silva and Marc Cucurella in the back four.
Potter could be boosted by the return of midfield duo Mateo Kovacic and Hakim Ziyech, who have returned to training since being granted extra time off after representing Croatia and Morocco respectively at the World Cup; both players are unlikely to start on Sunday, though.
Goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga was a doubt heading into Tuesday's contest with Bournemouth due to a foot injury, but the Spaniard recovered in time to start and he is poised to retain his place between the sticks ahead of Edouard Mendy.
Denis Zakaria started his first Premier League match against the Cherries since moving to Stamford Bridge on loan from Juventus in the summer, but his place in the first XI could come under threat from Conor Gallagher, who began on the bench last time out.
Jorginho and Mason Mount are expected to keep their places in centre-midfield, while a front three of Christian Pulisic, Raheem Sterling and Kai Havertz – the latter of whom scored and provided an assist against Bournemouth – could all start again, although Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will be hoping to force his way into Potter's first XI.
Chelsea possible starting lineup: Kepa; Azpilicueta, Koulibaly, Thiago Silva, Cucurella; Gallagher, Jorginho, Mount; Sterling, Havertz, Pulisic
Oliver Thomas
