Chelsea suffer further fitness issues ahead of Newcastle visit
Chelsea
Chelsea's latest injury updates includes nine absent players
Ben Chilwell seeing knee specialist after fresh injury scare
Levi Colwill & Conor Gallagher both unable to train ahead of Monday's Newcastle game
By Tom Gott
3:40 PM GMT
Chilwell is back on the sidelines
Chilwell is back on the sidelines / Richard Heathcote/GettyImages
Chelsea have confirmed left-back Ben Chilwell has been sent to see a specialist after picking up a fresh knee injury, with the Blues handed several fresh fitness concerns ahead of Monday's meeting with Newcastle United.
Chilwell, who returned from three months out with a hamstring injury in January, played the full 90 minutes against Brentford last time out but suffered a knee problem during the match which has left him unable to train since.
"We need to wait until he sees the specialist," head coach Mauricio Pochettino said when asked for an update on the left-back. "I cannot go in advance. I hope it's not a big issue but in this moment after eight or nine months with the club, I prefer to be cautious and wait."
Centre-back Levi Colwill also picked up a toe problem against Brentford which has left him unable to train, while midfielder Conor Gallagher has been unwell and has missed training as well.
On Gallagher, Pochettino explained: "He is still not here. In the last three days of training, he is not here. We will see if he can be with the possibility to train.
"The problem with this kind of situation is you lose weight, the energy is always down, you need time to recover and see if it can be possible to be available and in which level you can be available. We need to assess him in the next few days."
Ben Chilwell, Conor Gallagher
Gallagher joins Chilwell on the sidelines / Chloe Knott - Danehouse/GettyImages
Pochettino admitted his frustration towards what he feels is "bad luck" on the injury front, revealing he has never battled such an extensive injury bug before.
"We remember things from the past with different clubs, I think [this is the worst luck of his career]," Pochettino added. "Already when we arrived here at Chelsea, we analysed the situation, that was one of the weakest points in the last season, too many injuries. Too much bad luck, you know?
"Sometimes, bad luck or good luck, I don't like to talk in this way because it looks like if you work or don't work well, you need to have good or bad luck. But I think it's too many things that happen, you know?
"Why we have today the problems with the squad, it's about more deep analysis. It's not only bad luck, it's good to clarify. Also, it's something we need to think to improve or to restructure, to pay attention in all of the areas. It's not to blame one area, it's the responsibility of the whole club, of course."
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Anthony Gordon in ‘really good place’ as Newcastle star chases England call-up
Newcastle boss Eddie Howe has told Anthony Gordon his England dream will take care of itself if he maintains his scintillating form at club level.
The 23-year-old, who starred in the under-21s’ European Championship success last summer, scored his 10th goal of the season in Saturday’s 3-0 Premier League victory over Wolves to underline the progression he has made since his £45million switch from Everton in January 2023.
Gordon’s efforts have inevitably seen his name thrown into the conversation surrounding Gareth Southgate’s squad for this month’s friendlies against Brazil and Belgium and, beyond that, the Euro 2024 finals.
Asked how close he was to the senior squad, club boss Howe said: “I don’t know how close he is – that’s for Gareth to talk about, not me. But his form this season has been consistent and I think that is what Gareth will be looking for, consistent performances above a certain level.
“He will be looking for goals and assists from his wingers, and he’s delivered that as well. I think he’s in a really good place.
“I would say to him, don’t focus on England, focus on your club form. Keep doing the right things with us and everything else will take care of itself.
“Anthony has done that and I don’t think he’s been distracted at any time. He’s kept looking at the short term and is very motivated to play every minute of every game, which I love about him. His career is in a good place.”
Gordon arrived on Tyneside after a difficult end to his spell at Goodison Park with fans accusing him of forcing his way out of the club he had joined as a schoolboy, and found his initial months in the North East testing.
However, Howe is convinced he has learned from those experiences – and that of becoming a father – as he has matured on and off the pitch.
The head coach said: “For someone so young, he has had so many really good experiences – and that is not always positive experiences. His experience at Everton will definitely have strengthened him.
“That was difficult for him, and it was difficult year last year. He has left Liverpool, and that is a big thing for someone so young. He has just had a baby, and anyone who goes through that experience as a young man knows what effect that can have on your life and psychology.
“He has some really good things in his life which keep him stable, motivated to do well and fingers crossed, he can continue his form.”
Gordon will hope to maintain that form at Chelsea on Monday evening, a game for which Lewis Hall – who Howe revealed is close to meeting the criteria to make his £28m switch to Newcastle permanent – is ineligible under the terms of his loan agreement.
Full-back Kieran Trippier will miss out with a calf injury suffered against Wolves which is likely to sideline him for two games and rule him out of England duty.
