Head coach Mauricio Pochettino has revealed that Malo Gusto and Christopher Nkunku are in contention to return for Chelsea against Liverpool on Wednesday night.
After games in the EFL Cup and FA Cup last week, the Blues return to Premier League action looking to close the gap on the teams above them, the current deficit to sixth position being three points.
While Chelsea's injury situation has eased somewhat in recent weeks, the likes of Gusto and Nkunku have spent time on the sidelines.
Since completing 90 minutes on three occasions in the space of a week between January 6 and January 13, Gusto has been absent for two matches due to muscle fatigue.
Meanwhile, Nkunku has not played a single game in 2024 courtesy of a hip issue, with Pochettino hinting that it stemmed from being over-used upon his return from a knee injury that kept him sidelined for four months until the middle of December.
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However, speaking to reporters at a press conference on Tuesday, Pochettino revealed that he expects to have both players involved for the visit to Merseyside.
Furthermore, Nicolas Jackson may also be considered for a place on the substitutes' bench, despite playing over an hour for Senegal in their Africa Cup of Nations exit to Ivory Coast on Monday evening.
The Argentine said: "I think it is good news, Malo Gusto and Christoph [Nkunku] can be in the squad for tomorrow. Travel with us, with the team, that is good news.
"We will see. We will wait for the last moment, but at the moment, yes, it's good news to have two players recovered. And to see maybe, why not, to arrive Nicolas Jackson for tomorrow and to be involved also in the game. If he can arrive."
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On a negative note, Pochettino confirmed that defender Levi Colwill would sit out a second successive game with an issue that he says remains "minor".
He added: "Levi is out. He suffered a minor injury in his tendon. It's not a big issue but he is going to be out for tomorrow."
Ben Chilwell is expected to return to the team at left-back having sat out the FA Cup clash with Aston Villa on Friday, with Gusto challenging Axel Disasi for the right-back spot.
Despite speculation regarding his future, Armando Broja is likely to get the nod down the centre of the attack, with Nkunku settling for a place on the substitutes' bench.
Darren Plant
