Chelsea have provided several key injury updates as they prepare to face Leeds United in the Premier League at Stamford Bridge this week.
During Monday’s press conference, head coach Liam Rosenior gave reporters a clearer picture of the Blues’ fitness situation, with the captain and several first-team players involved in the latest round of team news.
Doubts over the captain
Reece James, Chelsea’s captain and right-back, is a major talking point in the latest injury news.
He missed recent matches after a minor knock, but Rosenior confirmed he has recovered fitness-wise. However, James has been suffering from a viral illness that has swept through the Chelsea camp in recent days, affecting staff and players alike.
Rosenior said that James is fit and available, but added that the illness has left him feeling under the weather. Despite that, the hope remains that the England international will be involved against Leeds.
Santos and Tosin back in training
Midfielder Andrey Santos is another positive name in the fitness report. He came off in the previous game with a swollen ankle but has now returned to training and is expected to be available to face Leeds.
Tosin Adarabioyo, who has been out with a hamstring issue, also trained with the group on Monday. Rosenior described his progress as “looking good,” and fans will be watching to see if the defender makes the matchday squad.
Lavia making progress
One of the biggest pieces of good news for Chelsea is the return to the training pitch of midfielder Romeo Lavia.
The Belgian has been out since early November with a quad injury, a long-running issue that has kept him sidelined for months.
Rosenior stressed that the club is managing his return carefully, with a detailed plan in place to ensure he comes back fully fit.
“It’s been great to see him. He’s been such a great player. We all know that. But what we have to do is make sure that when he’s back, he’s back for good. So we’re just making sure that he gets the right plan over the next ten days to two weeks to achieve that.”
Lavia’s gradual reintroduction to training marks a significant step, as he was expected to be a key player for Chelsea when fit.
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