A much-needed injury boost has come for Graham Potter ahead of Chelsea's return to action on December 27 against Bournemouth.
Reece James, Wesley Fofana, and Ben Chilwell are all recovering well from their individual injuries, according to Adam Newson of football.london, with the hope that they will be ready for that match at Stamford Bridge.
This weekend, all of the Chelsea players not participating in the World Cup will go to Abu Dhabi for warm-weather training. Players who are recovering from injuries will also be traveling to the Middle East; Kepa Arrizabalaga and Ruben Loftus-Cheek have been added to the roster, which already includes James, Fofana, and Chilwell.
Given the uncertainty of the World, having all of these guys back would be extremely beneficial for Potter.Even though the knockout stage will see more names sent home rapidly, those players will need breaks after their involvement, meaning that the players currently at Cobham will likely make up the eleven that start after Christmas.
The rapid recovery of Chilwell will come as a surprise given the seriousness of the hamstring injury suffered late in the win over Dinamo Zagreb last month. A statement released by the club days later said: "Results show that Ben has suffered a significant injury and the defender is unfortunately expected to miss the World Cup.
"Ben will now begin a rehabilitation programme with the club’s medical department."
There were some suggestions that his absence from action could stretch as long as three months, putting him on a similar return date as N'Golo Kante – who has not kicked a ball since August. This update brings much-needed positivity for Chilwell and Chelsea given his importance of him.
Similar to James, whose knee injury in October ended his World Cup hopes and a brilliant run of form, both wingbacks proved to be essential in Chelsea's strongest run of form under Thomas Tuchel last season.
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