Chelsea boss Liam Rosenior has provided the latest team news ahead of his side’s trip to Wrexham in the FA Cup this weekend.
The Blues travel to the Racecourse Ground for a 5.45pm kickoff in the fifth round of the competition on Saturday.
Rosenior is set to be without six first-team players for the away day. Levi Colwill continues his recovery from a cruciate ligament injury, Dario Essugo is out with a muscle problem, and Wesley Fofana is dealing with a knock. Mykhailo Mudryk is still serving a suspension for an alleged doping violation. Pedro Neto returns from a one-match ban.
There were, however, positive updates on wingers Estevao Willian and Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, although the Wrexham clash will come a bit too soon for either player.
Estevao has missed the last three matches with a hamstring injury, while Bynoe-Gittens has been missing since the end of January with a similar issue.
Latest Chelsea team news as Rosenior delivers injury update
“Estevao is back on the pitch, but he’s not ready for this one,” Rosenior said. “We need to be really, really careful, given it was a hamstring injury.
“He just needs to clear a few more markers. It will be a big boost to have him back in the group.
“Jamie Gittens is getting really close, which is great. He had a really positive scan. So hopefully within the next seven days, he’ll be back in the group.
Meanwhile, Romeo Lavia is gradually working towards being fit enough to make his first start since November. He has featured as a substitute in each of Chelsea‘s last two games, against Arsenal and Aston Villa.
“Romeo will definitely play a part, and he’ll play a huge part for the rest of the season,” Rosenior added.
“We know of his attributes. He’s been itching to play, but we’ve tried to build him in the best possible way. But his chance is to come, and he’s definitely going to play in these next few games.”
