Mauricio Pochettino has stated that one Chelsea player is close to making a return to the first team picture ahead of the end of the season.
He said in his pre-match press conference that one of their top performers is closing in on a comeback alongside club captain Reece James.
Injuries have plagued the Blues throughout the majority of this season, making it very difficult for Pochettino to select a strong side week in week out.
Chelsea struggling with defensive injuries
The defence has been an area which has been decimated throughout the campaign so far, with James missing the majoirty of the campaign up to now.
Another player who has joined him on the treatment table in 2024 is Levi Colwill, who has missed the best part of two months of action up to now.
This has seen him not present for a number of big games, including the recent FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City.
Pochettino has now said there is some light at the end of the tunnel, with the two English defenders being close to a return.
Colwill and James close to injury return
He said: “They are not available yet. They are close. They were doing partial training, but they are not available.”
With neither likely to be fit for the clash against Aston Villa this weekend, Pochettino faces a real tough task to pick a defence who will be able to keep out the likes of Ollie Watkins.
Alfie Gilchrist was handed his first start for the club at right-back against Arsenal, however there may be an appetite to return to the defence who competed so hard against City in the FA Cup.
This would see Trevoh Chalobah and Thiago Silva return to the starting side, with both of them perhaps unlikely to be at Stamford Bridge for much longer anyway.