Chilwell, Lavia, & Sanchez: Chelsea injury list & expected return dates ahead of Brighton clash

Chelsea are edging ever closer to the end of a tumultuous Premier League campaign. The Blues have endured plenty of ups and downs during Mauricio Pochettino’s first season at the helm, but now know that wins over Brighton and Bournemouth this week would be enough to propel them towards European qualification next term.

On Wednesday evening, Chelsea travel to the south coast to face the Seagulls, before hosting the Cherries at Stamford Bridge on the final day of the campaign. At the time of writing, the Blues are seventh in the Premier League table, level on points with Newcastle United above them and three points clear of Manchester United.

But how will Pochettino’s side line up for their concluding pair of matches? We’ve taken a closer look at their latest injury list, as well as any potential return dates where available, below...

Enzo Fernandez

The Argentine midfielder is ruled out for the rest of the season due to a groin issue, and is not expected back in action until later in the summer. Speaking about Fernandez towards the back end of April, Pochettino said: 'The moment Enzo felt pain and limitations because of the problem, the most important thing was to fix the situation. If he can't perform because of the situation, it's not good for him, not good for the team and not good for the club.'

Wesley Fofana

Like Fernandez, Fofana will not be available to feature in either of Chelsea’s final two matches. The French defender continues to struggle with a serious knee injury, and will now be fully focused on ensuring he is fit for the start of the 2024/25 campaign.

Romeo Lavia

Lavia has endured a nightmarish debut campaign in west London, and has been limited to just 32 minutes of Premier League action. He is making progress in his return to full fitness, but this week’s matches will almost certainly come too soon for the midfielder.

Ben Chilwell

Chilwell has been suffering from a knee injury on and off for a little while, and is currently on the treatment table with no concrete return date outlined. Speaking about his player last month, Pochettino said: 'Chilly has the same problem he has suffered in the last few weeks after being with the national team.'

Carney Chukwuemeka

The promising midfielder is currently out of action due to a knee issue, and like Chilwell, does not appear to have any kind of definite return date laid out before him. Speaking in late April, Pochettino said: 'Carney felt something in his knee related to his problem before. We hope it's not a big issue and he can be back as soon as possible.'

Robert Sanchez

And finally, Sanchez is struggling with an unspecified issue, but as of late April, had returned to ‘partial team training’. It is unclear when he will make his comeback, or indeed, what the future holds for him at Stamford Bridge. Widespread reports suggest that the Blues are eager to sign a new goalkeeper this summer, potentially relegating the Spaniard to third choice status.