Chelsea injury update: Estevao, Reece James, Marc Cucurella latest return dates as Arsenal clash looms | OneFootball

Liam Rosenior has plenty of absentees as fixture list turns tough in March

Chelsea are still dealing with a lengthy injury list ahead of their huge Premier League showdown with Arsenal this weekend.

Poor discipline also continues to be a real problem for Chelsea, with Wesley Fofana - who was subsequently subject to sickening racist abuse online - sent off at Stamford Bridge last weekend.

Here is all the latest Chelsea injury news and return dates before this weekend’s massive London derby test in N5, for which Fofana will be suspended.

Estevao

Chelsea’s teenage Brazilian sensation started against both Leeds and Hull, scoring against the latter, but missed the draw with Burnley after suffering a hamstring complaint in training at Cobham on the eve of the game.

Estevao was being sent for a scan and it remains to be seen if he is set for a further spell on the sidelines, with Rosenior expected to give a fresh update when he addresses the media at his pre-Arsenal press conference on Friday.

Estevao scored against Hull but missed Chelsea’s draw with Burnley

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“Unfortunately yesterday in the training session, he felt awareness in his hamstring,” Rosenior said before facing Burnley.

“At the moment we are scanning it to make sure it’s nothing too serious but he’s unavailable for today’s game and we will see from there.”

Potential return date: Unknown

Reece James

Chelsea continue to be understandably prudent in the careful management of the fitness of their influential captain, who has a long injury history.

A recent knock was followed by a bout of illness and James returned to play an hour at Hull before starting again and going off in the 89th minute against Burnley.

Asked if that substitution was enforced by injury, Rosenior said: “Reece, it was just honestly, he's so important to us as the captain, as the world-class player that he is.

Chelsea continue to carefully manage the fitness of Reece James

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“Any sign of fatigue with him, I want to get him off the pitch. I need him for Arsenal. He should be absolutely fine.”

Potential return date: Sunday March 1, vs Arsenal (A)

Romeo Lavia

Lavia has struggled repeatedly with long-term injuries since joining Chelsea in the summer of 2023 and has only made seven appearances across all competitions so far this season, not featuring at senior level since early November due to a thigh issue suffered against Qarabag in the Champions League.

However, the Belgian midfielder has been back training at Cobham for a number of weeks now and has been building up his match fitness by appearing for the Under-21s, playing 45 minutes in a recent Premier League 2 fixture against Leeds.

Romeo Lavia is back in training and was an unused substitute against Burnley

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Rosenior has stressed the need for patience and to ensure that Lavia is fully fit when he plays again, desperate to avoid another setback as he follows a detailed training plan.

Lavia was an unused substitute against Burnley and you would expect him to also make the bench at Arsenal, where he will be pushing for his first minutes of 2026.

Potential return date: Sunday March 1, vs Arsenal (A)

Marc Cucurella

A mainstay usually for Chelsea at left-back, Cucurella has not played since the draw with Leeds due to a hamstring injury suffered in the first half.

He was expected to miss approximately three to four weeks of action, which would put him on track to return to the pitch in mid-March, potentially around the time of Newcastle’s visit to Stamford Bridge or the earlier trip to Wrexham in the FA Cup.

Potential return date: Saturday March 7, vs Wrexham (A) or Saturday March 14, vs Newcastle (H)

Marc Cucurella is currently dealing with a hamstring injury

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Jamie Gittens

Chelsea’s summer signing from Borussia Dortmund sustained his own hamstring injury during the first half of the eventful and feisty 3-2 comeback win over West Ham on January 31.

Subsequent assessments revealed a muscle tear that Rosenior confirmed would keep him on the sidelines for some time, though an exact time frame for his recovery has not yet been communicated.

“Jamie is looking a little bit more long-term,” he said. “It's a real shame for him... he's got a tear in his hamstring. Too early to say [how long].”

Potential return date: Unknown

Dario Essugo

Essugo’s return from thigh surgery proved frustratingly short-lived due to an unspecified injury picked up in training and he is still yet to play at all for Chelsea this season, having been an unused substitute against Charlton and Arsenal in the cups under Rosenior.

However, the Portuguese midfielder, who did feature at the Club World Cup last summer, was spotted back in training at Cobham on Tuesday and could presumably now push to make the bench this weekend.

Potential return date: Sunday March 1, vs Arsenal (A)

Filip Jorgensen

Chelsea’s primary back-up goalkeeper, the usual No2 behind regular starter Robert Sanchez, has been absent from the matchday squad since January due to an injury suffered in the Champions League win over Pafos.

Rosenior previously said that Jorgensen was close to a comeback and could return either against Arsenal in the Carabao Cup semi-final second leg or maybe at Wolves, though he has still yet to resume his usual role.

Teddy Sharman-Lowe has moved into the back-up spot amid Jorgensen’s absence since returning early from a loan spell at Bolton, though he was not involved against Burnley either as Gabriel Slonina came on to the bench instead.

Potential return date: March

Levi Colwill has not played for Chelsea this season due to a long-term knee injury

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Levi Colwill

Chelsea have been without Colwill for the entire season so far after he suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury in their first pre-season training session and needed surgery.

The Blues will not rush the England defender back, though Rosenior has expressed hope that he could return before the end of the campaign.

“I'm hopeful,” Rosenior said recently. “I'm hopeful because he's an outstanding player. Again, no time frames.

“You have to take these long-term injuries day by day. And also, it's not about when he comes back, it's about him staying fit when he is back.”