Chelsea could be without as many as eight players for Saturday's London derby away against West Ham United in the Premier League.
The Blues, who currently sit ninth in the table, will definitely be without N'Golo Kante (hamstring), Edouard Mendy (finger), Christian Pulisic and Armando Broja (both knee) as they continue to recover from injury.
Raheem Sterling (knee) has emerged as a doubt for the trip to the London Stadium after suffering an injury setback in training, and Graham Potter has confirmed that the attacker will be assessed ahead of kickoff.
Denis Zakaria is also doubtful after being withdrawn in the second half of Chelsea's goalless draw against Fulham last Friday with a thigh issue, as is fellow midfielder Mateo Kovacic who has missed the last two matches with a calf problem.
Meanwhile, Wesley Fofana has stepped up his rehabilitation from a long-term knee problem and returned to full team training this week, although Saturday's trip to West Ham may come too soon for the centre-back.
Elsewhere, Chelsea are able to welcome back Joao Felix after serving a three-man suspension, and the Atletico Madrid loanee will be hoping to force his way back into Potter's starting lineup.
Full-backs Reece James and Ben Chilwell made their first appearances of 2023 in the draw with Fulham after spells out with respective knee and hamstring injuries – the former playing for just under an hour from the start and the latter coming on as a late substitute – and both players will be in contention to start against the Hammers.
Thiago Silva and Benoit Badiashile are set to continue their centre-back partnership in front of goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, while British-record signing Enzo Fernandez is poised to retain his place in centre-midfield after making his full debut last week.
Mykhaylo Mudryk, Kai Havertz and Hakim Ziyech began as the front three against Fulham, but Potter may consider changing his attack on Saturday, with Felix, Noni Madueke and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang all pushing for a starting berth.
Chelsea possible starting lineup: Arrizabalaga; James, Thiago Silva, Badiashile, Cucurella; Gallagher, Fernandez, Mount; Madueke, Havertz, Mudryk
Oliver Thomas
