Chelsea given injury boost as Mauricio Pochettino confirms Mykhailo Mudryk and Moises Caicedo are both fit to play against Burnley while Reece James will return to the fold once he has served his suspension
- There had been doubts about Mudryk and Caicedo’s involvement on Saturday
- Reece James is also said to be progressing well after picking up another injury
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Chelsea’s injury list has been pilling up in recent weeks but Mauricio Pochettino has confirmed that notable names will return to the fold ahead of his side’s trip to Turf Moor on Saturday.
There had been doubts surrounding Mykhailo Mudryk and Moises Caicedo’s involvement against Burnley but the Blues boss revealed at his pre-match press conference that both are fit to play.
‘Yes, both in the squad, we will decide later whether they have a chance for the start,’ he said.
‘It was close last week to join us. This week they have trained well, I still have not decided, I need to check with Jesus and the medical staff as I’m straight from the training pitch and 30 minutes late, I am sorry for that.’
Reece James (left) is expected to return to the fold once his suspension is up while Mykhailo Mudryk (right) is in Mauricio Pochettino’s squad for Saturday
Moises Caicedo picked up a knock against Fulham last week but is fit to play at Turf Moor
Ben Chilwell will be out for a little while longer after being forced off the field against Brighton
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Caicedo picked an injury to his left knee against Fulham last week as fans feared the worst. The Ecuadorian midfielder was spotted with strapping on his knee and was substituted early but didn’t look in too much discomfort as he walked down the tunnel after the final whistle.
Mudryk, meanwhile, was withdrawn at half time at Craven Cottage after scoring his first competitive goal for the club.
Yet it appears it wasn’t due to anything serious as he is expected to be back in Pochettino’s side a week later.
There is also good news regarding the availability of Reece James.
Pochettino is hoping he will be back in action once he has served his suspension for verbally abusing an official in the tunnel following Chelsea’s 1-0 loss to Aston Villa last month.
‘We are really happy with the way he is recovering,’ replied Pochettino when asked about James. ‘We hope that he has the possibility to be involved after his suspension.’
Saturday will be too soon for Ben Chiwell though. Pochettino insists they are judging his condition ‘day by day’ after he was forced off the pitch against Brighton on September 27.
‘It is difficult, I am not a doctor,’ Pochettino added on Chilwell. ‘It is about judging day by day, We cannot say the period he will be out.’
Benoit Badiashile and Trevoh Chalobah recently returned to partial team training and are unlikely to feature.
Meanwhile, Marcus Bettinelli, Wesley Fofana, Christopher Nkunku and Romeo Lavia are continuing to undergo their rehabilitation programmes.
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