Chelsea’s already fraught preparation for Sunday’s draw with Man City was made all the more complicated by the news of two new first-team absentees.
Enzo Maresca’s split from the club on New Year’s Day threw the club into disarray as Under-21s boss Calum McFarlane was called up to the top job on an interim basis.
He had his work cut out for him, facing one of the best managers in the game in his own managerial debut, but he was also unable to call upon Robert Sanchez and Wesley Fofana, who were added to the list of first-team absentees in the lead-up to the match.
The managerless Blues managed to come away from the Etihad with a point. It remains unclear who will be in the dugout as they face Fulham on Wednesday evening, though some returnees are expected in the squad for the short trip to Craven Cottage.
With that in mind, here’s the latest Chelsea injury news and potential return dates...
Robert Sanchez
Robert Sanchez was one of the two Chelsea stars ruled out at the last minute ahead of the trip to face Man City, missing out with a minor muscle injury.
Speaking ahead of kick-off in Manchester, interim boss McFarlane explained: "Rob [Sanchez] felt his injury in the warm-up against Bournemouth, he played through it and trained on Friday, and then yesterday felt like he wasn't right.”
Second-choice shot-stopper Filip Jorgensen deputised between the sticks at the Etihad, keeping Chelsea in the game with some crucial saves, while Sanchez watched on from the stands.
The exact nature of Sanchez’s injury was not specified, though there is optimism he can return to action away to Fulham in midweek.
Potential return date: January 7 vs Fulham (A)
Wesley Fofana
Centre-back Wesley Fofana has been in and out of the Chelsea squad this season as he struggles to stay fit, but had been expected to start against Man City.
He was struck down with a fever on the morning of the match, though, and was forced to miss out.
“Wes [Fofana] trained well yesterday but woke up today with a really high temperature so he's ill and can't play,” said caretaker manager McFarlane pre-match.
The severity of Fofana’s illness and his return timeline are not entirely clear.
Potential return date: Unknown
Marc Cucurella
Full-back Marc Cucurella is generally a mainstay for Chelsea, but has not played for the club since coming off in the second-half of the December draw with Aston Villa with a hamstring tweak.
The Spaniard returned to training on Friday and it was hoped he could return in time to face City on Sunday.
Speaking in his pre-match press conference, though, McFarlane could not provide a concrete update on his condition: “Yeah, that is positive (that Cucurella trained on Friday). We're undecided on [whether he can play], so I don't really have the full information on that as of yet.”
“I'm sure it will come out in the next couple of days.”
Cucurella duly missed the City match, but travelled to support his team-mates at the Etihad and will hope to join them on the pitch at Craven Cottage on Wednesday night.
Potential return date: January 7 vs Fulham (A)
Dario Essugo
Dario Essugo’s injury return was again delayed after he suffered a setback in his recovery in December.
Enzo Maresca later confirmed that he had suffered a new injury rather than a reaggravation of a preexisting one.
Asked in December when he could come back, Maresca said: “I don’t know. I don’t have information. I know that he’s better.
“It’s not the same injury that he had in the past. It’s something small and it will be a short time.”
Potential return date: January 2026
Romeo Lavia
Romeo Lavia’s latest injury came away to Qarabag in the Champions League league phase, when he made a rare start but was hooked with a “muscle” problem after just seven minutes.
Speaking on his recovery progress in December, Maresca said: “We don't know yet when he can be back.”
Lavia has been a Chelsea player for two-and-a-half-years, but has still made just 29 appearances for the club as he deals with near-constant injury issues.
Potential return date: Unknown
Levi Colwill
Levi Colwill will be sidelined for most, if not all, of this season after tearing his ACL in pre-season and undergoing surgery.
The injury occurred mere weeks after the Blues lifted the Club World Cup trophy in New York.
Potential return date: Spring/summer 2026
