Chelsea injuries and team news: Enzo Fernandez's season is OVER, Palmer RETURNS to face Aston Villa

Cameron Smith

• Updated: 26 Apr 2024 17:56 BST
• 6 min read

Chelsea have been locked in an injury crisis for the past two years, although the number of Mauricio Pochettino’s players on the treatment table is at an all-time high ahead of their Premier League clash against Aston Villa.

The Blues suffered an embarrassing 5-0 loss against Arsenal on Tuesday night and Pochettino will be without 12 senior players to face Unai Emery's side due to injury.

Enzo Fernandez's season is over after he underwent surgery having played with injury for the past four months. Cole Palmer is back, however, following an illness that ruled him out against Arsenal.

Below, FootballTransfers runs through the latest Chelsea injury update.

READ MORE: Man Utd injuries and team news

Chelsea injuries

Robert Sanchez

Robert Sanchez is back in partial team training, but he is unlikely to be involved against Villa.

The Spaniard has been demoted to second-choice anyway and would likely have started on the bench even if he was fully fit.

Possible Return Date: May

Levi Colwill

Levi Colwill is currently out with a toe injury, although he could make a return to action soon.

He is back in partial team training and could make a return in May.

Possible Return Date: May

Christopher Nkunku

Christopher Nkunku has only started two Premier League matches this season, due to persistent injury troubles, and his most recent issue was a hamstring injury. He is, however, back in partial team training.

Ahead of the FA Cup semi-final, Pochettino said: "With Nkunku it is about assessing him day by day and in the last few days he has had the possibility to be involved in some part of the training sessions.

"Now we need to see the reaction of his body and then how he is going to evolve. We hope we can recover him and have him available before the season finishes."

Possible Return Date: May

Reece James

Having missed the majority of the campaign due to two hamstring injuries, Reece James won’t be rushed back, but the Englishman could feature in the final few games of the season if things go well.

He is continuing rehabilitation as things stand, but a return is on the horizon as he is back in partial team training, like Colwill and Nkunku.

Possible Return Date: May

Malo Gusto

Malo Gusto has picked up several small injuries this season, with the Frenchman relied upon heavily amid Reece James' issues. However, he missed the match against Arsenal and will also be absent versus Villa.

Pochettino recently admitted: "Malo suffered a minor problem in his knee ligaments. I am not a doctor, but you asked me and I respect trying to translate what is going on. I hope it is not a big issue."

Possible Return Date: Unknown

Ben Chilwell

Ben Chilwell can't string a run of games together and he is absent yet again, despite featuring off the bench against Manchester City.

The England international missed the loss to Arsenal and will not play against Villa either. Pochettino didn't detail much in his pre-match press conference, revealing: "Chilly, also, after the national team - it's the same problem he suffered in the last few weeks."

Possible Return Date: Unknown

Raheem Sterling

Raheem Sterling has only played 26 minutes in the last four matches, yet he has been added to Chelsea's injury report.

The winger has a back issue and his return date is unknown.

Possible Return Date: Unknown

Carney Chukwuemeka

Carney Chukwuemeka has missed most of this season through injury and while he was an unused substitute against Arsenal, he has now been re-added to Chelsea's injury list.

Pochettino has stated that Chukwuemeka has suffered a twinge of the same knee injury that ruled him out for the first-half of the campaign.

Possible Return Date: Unknown

Lesley Ugochukwu

Lesley Ugochukwu hasn’t featured since Christmas Eve due to a hamstring injury, and although he was initially expected to return in early 2024, he is still absent and isn’t due to play again for several weeks.

Pochettino recently admitted: “Lesley is doing his recovery. We will see if in a few weeks he can again be part of the training sessions with the first team. But it is day by day that we are assessing these guys.”

The Frenchman has reportedly been in partial team training this week.

Possible Return Date: Unknown

Romeo Lavia

Romeo Lavia joined Chelsea injured and worked his way back to fitness, making a 32-minute cameo in December, before suffering another injury.

He is now out with a hamstring problem and the Blues have confirmed that he will not play again this season.

Possible Return Date: 2024-25 season

Enzo Fernandez

Fernandez will not feature again this season after he successfully completed groin surgery following the defeat to Arsenal.

Chelsea have confirmed that he will not feature again this campaign.

Possible Return Date: 2024-25 season

Wesley Fofana

Wesley Fofana suffered an ACL injury during pre-season and has missed the entire campaign. He will not feature until 2024-25.

Possible Return Date: 2024-25 season

Chelsea suspensions

Chelsea do not have any suspended players for their match against Aston Villa.

Chelsea team news

Next fixture: Aston Villa - 27 April

Pochettino has an extremely limited pool of players to choose from against Villa, meaning his starting XI will almost pick itself.

Chelsea predicted line-up vs Aston Villa: Petrovic; Disasi, Chalobah, T.Silva, Cucurella; Caicedo, Gallagher; Madueke, Palmer, Mudryk; Jackson.