Chelsea have received massive injury boosts ahead of their clash with Manchester City in the FA Cup this weekend, with Enzo Fernandez returning to full first-team training and Christopher Nkunku back in partial team training.
Fernandez had missed the 6-0 loss to Everton with a Hernia issue, and there have been rumours that he will opt for surgery. But that is not the case with the Argentine international back in training and ready to get back into the thick of the action.
Conor Gallagher played deeper in Fernandez’s absence and put in quite the shift in the centre. Manager Mauricio Pochettino now faces a huge dilemma with City waiting at Wembley this weekend.
The Blues looked solid and more compact without the former Benfica man. The manager may be tempted to stick to the same XI that mullered Everton on Monday.
Nkunku’s injury has been a cause for concern among the Chelsea faithful, with the €60 million summer signing battling fitness issues. The French international has been out of action since the EFL Cup final on February 25 but has returned to partial training.
It has been a nightmare debut campaign for the former RB Leipzig forward, who has missed a majority of the season through injury and failed to establish himself in the first team.
However, Nkunku hopes to put these fitness worries behind him and play a crucial role for the West Londoners in the run-in as they look to salvage something from a disappointing season.
Chelsea can secure European football this season with a late push. The two-time Champions League winners are currently in ninth position on the log (47 points) and can close the gap on sixth-placed Newcastle United (50) by winning their game in hand.
Axel Disasi and Raheem Sterling have also rejoined first-team training and will look to give Chelsea that much-needed boost for the final stretch.