Nkunku, James, Badiashile: Chelsea injury news latest and return dates before Newcastle clash

It may have been a month since Mauricio Pochettino’s Chelsea lost a game in normal time, but that didn’t prevented both the manager and the club’s owners from being slated in the stands during last week’s 2-2 draw against Brentford. Should the Blues fail to beat Newcastle United this coming Monday, the pressure on Pochettino will grow – and he will have to navigate the match with a lengthy list of injury worries.

No fewer than eight players are either out or doubts for a game which could have a big impact on both teams’ chances of qualifying for Europe, so we’ve brought together all of the latest news along with information on possible return dates ahead of a crucial Premier League clash.

Christopher Nkunku

Having missed the first four months of the season with a knee injury which required surgery, the £52m summer signing suffered a fresh setback when he picked up a hamstring injury during the EFL Cup final defeat to Liverpool.

That is expected to sideline the Frenchman, who has made just ten appearances since signing from RB Leipzig, for at least a month. The match against Burnley on 30 March is the earliest plausible return date at this stage.

Reece James

Another player dogged by injuries this season, club captain James has played just nine games thanks to consecutive serious hamstring injuries, the most recent of which has required surgery. The initial prognosis was that he would miss around three months of action, which would place a possible return date around the beginning of April – but the club have not provided any progress reports in recent weeks.

Benoît Badiashile

The £35m centre-half has been absent for a month with a groin injury which he picked up at the start of February but reports have been circulating that the Frenchman is back in training and could be back in the matchday squad for Monday’s game against Newcastle. He is unlikely to start and the club have yet to confirm his return, but it should certainly be imminent.

Roméo Lavia

Another summer signing whose Chelsea career has been curtailed by fitness issues. No return date has been provided since he sustained a serious thigh injury on his delayed debut, and Pochettino told reporters in February that he was not yet back in training. It is doubtful that he will play again this season.

Carney Chukwuemeka

Having made his comeback from a serious knee injury in January, Chukwuemeka lasted just five games before succumbing to a high ankle sprain in training. Having been out for three weeks so far, he is likely to return some time after the March international break, but the club have not provided an update.

Lesley Ugochukwu

The France Under-21 international was initially expected to miss around six weeks after picking up a hamstring injury during the Christmas Eve match against Wolverhampton Wanderers – but nine weeks later, he has still not appeared and no timeline has been provided for his return to action.

Wesley Fofana

A damaged anterior cruciate ligament suffered in pre-season will rule Fofana out for the entire season following successful surgery. The 23-year-old has managed just 15 appearances since signing for an initial £70m in August 2022, and Chelsea will have to hope that his recovery goes well and that he is ready to play next year.

Thiago Silva

The veteran Brazil centre-half missed three matches with a minor groin injury sustained during the 3-1 win over Crystal Palace in February, but was back on the bench for the game against Brentford. He didn’t make it onto the pitch, but it is understood that he should be fully fit and available for selection if called upon on Monday.