10 Chelski players our for our match next week

[ex_pat_magpie]

Quote, not my words. If true, very interesting.

Newcastle United are preparing to face Chelsea in a game that could boost the team’s hopes of achieving European football.

A comfortable win over Wolves last time out helped push Eddie Howe’s side up to eighth, which could be enough for a Europa Conference League spot, but the Magpies will have eyes on the teams above them in the table. On Monday, Newcastle will travel to a Chelsea side that have struggled to climb out of midtable, despite their well-publicised transfer spree.

Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino will be without several key players for the clash at Stamford Bridge, including Conor Gallagher. The influential midfielder has been absent from training due to illness.

"He is not here in the last three days we were training. We will see tomorrow or Saturday if he can have the possibility to train," Pochettino said in his Thursday press conference. "The problem is you lose weight and the energy is down."

The Blues also revealed two new injury concerns in Ben Chilwell and Levi Colwill. The latter was substituted in the 79th minute against Brentford last weekend, while Chilwell is set to receive a specialist medical assessment.

They are not the only Chelsea defenders that face spells on the sideline as Reece James is expected to be out until next month with a hamstring problem. Wesley Fofana’s injury misfortune has continued as he looks set to miss the entire campaign after rupturing his ACL in pre-season. Fellow centre-back Benoit Badiashile has also been out with a groin issue since early February but could come back into contention to face Newcastle.

There was some welcome news for Pochettino in Chelsea’s draw with Brentford last weekend as both Thiago Silva and Marc Cucurella returned to the matchday squad. However, Chelsea still have a few injury concerns in midfield.

Romeo Lavia, who opted to join Chelsea over Liverpool in the summer, has made just one league appearance after suffering a thigh injury in December and the timeline for his recovery is currently unknown. Similarly, Lesley Ugochukwu picked up a hamstring issue around the festive period and no date has been set for his return.

Carney Chukwuemeka completes the list of midfield absentees for Chelsea after missing the club’s last three league games with a twisted ankle. In attack, Christopher Nkunku has also struggled for fitness throughout the season and is expected to be out until April.

"I think he suffered a problem in his hamstring and we will see in a few weeks if he can be again available,” Pochettino explained. “But yes, now he is doing recovery from Sunday. A little bit unlucky, bad luck because to suffer again another setback.”

[Jammy89]

Them not having Gallagher could be a massive win for us.

Whilst I'm not a massive fan, he does seem to turn it on for them.

[Zippity]

Aye, Gallagher seems fairly key to them if not quite to the same extent as Cole Palmer.

[toptoon]

Gallagher could play. He’s been ill, just.

This game will be a good test to see if we’re ‘back’ or whether the Wolves performance was a one off.

[Kal]

This game will be a good test to see if we’re ‘back’ or whether the Wolves performance was a one off.

I guess we failed the test.

[toptoon]

Most certainly.

[Zippity]

I guess we failed the test.

Worryingly so.

[Jammy89]

I guess we failed the test.

Yes. Yes we did.