Injury crisis as Blues face Toon

BY PAUL LAGAN
paul@slpmedia.co.uk

Chelsea are facing an injury crisis as they prepare for tomorrow’s Premier League clash away to Newcastle United.

Already without Christian Pulisic, Romelu Lukaku and Timo Werner, the Blues succumbed to three training ground injures ahead of Tuesday’s EFL cup clash at home to Southampton.

The makeshift squad won on penalties after being held 1-1 over the 90 minutes.

Skipper Cesar Azpilicueta suffered a blow to his shoulder, while centre-back Andrea Christensen needed surgery on his mouth for a tooth problem.

Ruben Loftus-Cheek is the most serious of all three, as he sustained a hip injury.

While head coach Thomas Tuchel is putting a positive spin on the injuries, suggesting two of the three may feature at St James’s Park, he knows they will have missed serious training time and cannot be relied upon to start.

Newcastle will be motivated to dent league leaders Chelsea and win their first match of the season.

They are still manager-less after the new moneybags regime sacked Steve Bruce.

Tuchel’s charges won 4-3 on spot kicks after Kai Havertz put the Blues ahead on the stroke of half-time.

They were pegged back two minutes into the second half by a Che Adams close-range shot.

The German said: “ We were expecting it to be difficult.

“We had some last-minute changes. Three potential starters got injured in training yesterday.

“It was not planned like this, so we had not so many options from the bench to not overuse players.

“We knew it was the first time we played together in this selection and we knew it would be tough against a team that put so much pressure on you. That’s the way it was.”

Second choice goalkeeper Kepa Kepa made a save in the shootout – his eighth in a Chelsea shirt.

Tuchel said of the Spaniard: “He produces. He is full of confidence. He has this experience now with us, and he has done it again and again.

“Just because you win a penalty shootout, does not mean you will do it again.

“Full credit to him. It’s a special thing in football and we were again concentrated and calm. Kepa was a big part of that.”

Kepa said of his successful night’s work: “I am confident, I feel good, I like the penalties so I am happy.

“I am happy to help the team when I have the opportunity so I am really happy to go into the next round.”

The draw for the quarter-finals of the EFL cup takes place tomorrow.

Chelsea women return to domestic action on Sunday when they travel to Manchester to face a tricky FA Cup semi-final against City at the Academy Stadium.

Emma Hayes will have little time to assess the players as the majority have all faced international matches with some not returning to training until today.

On November 11, the U18s side will play a friendly match with UK Armed Forces Women at Kingsmeadow Stadium to mark Remembrance Day 2021.