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Football London
Football London
Sport
Tom Coley

Latest Chelsea injury news as four miss Aston Villa with Reece James worry and N'Golo Kante call

Graham Potter will be hoping that yet more of his first team stars can return to matchday fitness over the international break after Chelsea were able to slowly bed in a group of recovering players in the weeks before the fortnight away.

Included in that category are N'Golo Kante, who has remained in England, but also Christian Pulisic. The American was called up for USMNT after making two substitute appearances and a first start since January 5, the next step for him is to ensure that game sharpness comes quickly.

Elsewhere Potter will be keen to see Reece James wrapped in cotton wool on England duty as the wing-back sets about being up to full speed when the Champions League quarter-final tie against Real Madrid comes around in mid-April.

READ MORE: Thomas Tuchel and Jurgen Klopp were right about Christian Pulisic and Chelsea have proven it

James has been in and out of the side since returning from a second lengthy injury of the season but hasn't looked back to his rampaging best just yet. The 23-year-old came on against Italy for England and got through the game unscathed which is good news for both club and country.

Elsewhere Conor Gallagher was also used by Gareth Southgate in a role familiar to that of which he has played at club level in recent weeks. Coming in from the bench to see out the game for his country.

The Three Lions didn't make use of Ben Chilwell though who was unused by Southgate despite Luke Shaw being sent off. Kieran Trippier was preferred on the left side. This may well be more good news for Potter who can rest easy knowing that his star defender isn't being overworked.

Two Chelsea players weren't involved for England though with Mason Mount and Raheem Sterling both absent from the camp. Sterling was left out having not played for Chelsea since the 2-0 win over Borussia Dortmund. "Raheem has a problem with his hamstring. It's not too serious but he'll miss the game at the weekend and the international trip," Potter explained.

"It's just a bit the niggly one. He’ll have days when he feels good and then days when he has had setbacks. Hopefully if we can manage it through this period, he might be okay."

Southgate confirmed that after naming his squad, adding: "Raheem is not fit, so that's that one." As for Mount, he was originally named in the group despite missing domestic action since featuring against Tottenham. "It's the same with Mason. He'll miss the England camp as well," Potter said before the draw to Everton last weekend.

Mount has been struggling with a lower abdomen issue in recent weeks and Potter further added detail to his removal from the squad, clearing up any confusion: "He's never been available as far as I am aware. He needed a bit of time for his injury to settle down which has pretty much ruled him out of England. Whether that meant they needed a bit of time to double-check that, I don't know.

"I don’t think there is anything untoward at all. It's more that sometimes with these things he can be named and yet there's still a couple of days where things can be changed. But from my selection perspective he wasn't available for the weekend."

The pair aren't the only ones missing out. Wesley Fofana was called up to Didier Deschamps' France squad but had to be removed due to an injury he picked up against the Toffees in a huge personal blow for the impressive youngster. "Wes Fofana had to come off with fatigue, as he has had a long time out. He was feeling his hamstring. Wes was fantastic and defended well," Potter said after the 2-2 draw.

There is hope he will be able to recover in time to face Aston Villa in the next league game. Thiago Silva, his fellow centre-back partner, is also out and didn't travel with Brazil due to a knee injury that is likely to keep him out for several more weeks. Meanwhile Kante returned to the matchday squad for the first time since August but wasn't required off the bench at Stamford Bridge.

He will be hoping to come back in better condition for the Champions League ties on the horizon.

Also remaining in London are Edouard Mendy, who hasn't yet fully gotten over his fractured finger, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang - though he was in Barcelona on the night of the Everton draw - with a back strain and long-term absentee Armando Broja. Cesar Azpilicueta hasn't played since suffering a concussion against Southampton and picked up a knock in training too.

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