Chelsea injury update: Marc Cucurella, Dario Essugo and Romeo Lavia latest news and return dates

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Evening Standard

·29 December 2025

Chelsea injury update: Marc Cucurella, Dario Essugo and Romeo Lavia latest news and return dates

Blues fitness woes continue to ease

Chelsea are juggling the busy December fixture schedule and have been handed a new huge injury scare

Both Estevao and Liam Delap were able to return to action at the weekend, as the Blues lost to Aston Villa, to ease Enzo Maresca’s fitness woes.

But now Marc Cucurella faces concerns over a possible hamstring injury after asking to come off during the defeat at Stamford Bridge.

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With that in mind, here is the latest Chelsea injury news and return dates…

Marc Cucurella

The defender asked to be substituted during the home defeat to Aston Villa, with Enzo Maresca confirming afterwards concerns over a possible hamstring injury.

The Chelsea manager said: “He was complaining about his hamstring. We don’t know if it’s an injury now or not. He asked for the change.”

Cucurella is now set for scans on the problem area, which throws his involvement against Bournemouth on Tuesday into doubt.

Potential return date: Man City (A) on January 4, 2026

Dario Essugo

Dario Essugo has seen his return from injury again delayed.

The summer signing’s start to life with the Blues was hampered by a thigh problem suffered in September, and then a return to training in November was cut short.

It was initially thought to be a setback with the same thigh issue, but it has since been confirmed that Essugo has picked up a separate issue.

Asked for an updated timeline for his return, Maresca said earlier in December: “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 remains sidelined with a “muscle” problem picked up against Qarabag in the Champions League in early November.

The latest update from Maresca was rather concerning, with the head coach unable to give a timeline for a return.

He said earlier in December: “We don't know yet when he can be back.”

Pushed on whether Lavia is expected to be a short-term or long-term absentee, Maresca replied: “We don't know.”

Injury issues have restricted Lavia to just 29 appearances since his £53million move from Southampton in the summer of 2023.

Potential return date: Unknown

Levi Colwill

Levi Colwill will be sidelined for most of the season with an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury.

A devastating injury in a World Cup year, the defender suffered the blow shortly after Chelsea returned for pre-season training at Cobham in August, days after winning the Club World Cup.

Colwill underwent surgery soon after and is expected to be sidelined for much of the campaign.

Potential return date: Spring/summer 2026