Chelsea Injury News Ahead Of Season Opener Vs Huddersfield

Chelsea Injury News Ahead Of Season Opener Vs Huddersfield

Chelsea have worked through an uncertain summer as they had their transfer plans mainly on hold while they tried to resolve the contract situation with Antonio Conte and waited to appoint former Napoli boss Maurizio Sarri as his replacement.

Chelsea start their campaign this Saturday with a 2pm kick-off at the John Smith’s Stadium against David Wagner’s impressive Huddersfield Town outfit who stayed in the Premier League after negotiating a tough relegation battle.

Chelsea came off severely second best against Manchester City in the Community Shield on Sunday and former Napoli manager Maurizio Sarri was forced to play a make-shift line-up in his first official game as Chelsea boss.

The game however did give English U17 World Cup winner Callum Hudson-Odoi a chance to play and he looked quick and grew in confidence as he played, looking dangerous as he cut in from the left.

As well as changing the formation and trying to complete transfer business, new boss Sarri is having to contend with the whole Thibaut Courtois drama as the Belgian ace has not reported to training as he looks to force through his return to Madrid – this time with Real.

The good news is that Eden Hazard is set to stay and Willian has confirmed he does not want to leave the Blues despite numerous rumours suggesting he could be joining Barca or Man Utd.

On the injury front, like rivals Man United, after having so many players involved at the World Cup and having made so few signings the injury situation at Stamford Bridge is looking serious.

Defender Kurt Zouma with a nasty knee problem, forward Marco van Ginkel and winger Isaiah Brown both with anterior cruciate ligament injuries are all long-term absentees for Chelsea.

After the World Cup Michy Batshuayi, Olivier Giroud, Gary Cahill, N’Golo Kante and Eden Hazard are all fitness and injury doubts meaning the solitary addition of Jorginho and the impending sale of Thibaut Courtois is making life tough for Maurizio Sarri.

Jack Butland was reportedly close to joining Chelsea as their new number one goalkeeper with a £30million deal close to being completed with Stoke City allowing Chelsea to grant Courtois his wish of returning to life in Spain with his kids.

UPDATE: We now know Chelsea went in a totally different direction as they signed Kepa Arrizabalaga in a world record deal.

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Who else Chelsea added in the remaining days of the window was uncertain but you would have imagined there would have been some other players joining but the only other signing Chelsea made was Matteo Kovacic on loan.

For the game on Saturday, Huddersfield only have 2 injuries with Daniel Williams a definite absentee with a broken ankle while Elias Kachunga is a slight doubt with a less serious ankle problem.

Chelsea will be aiming to start their Premier League campaign with a win for their new boss and will be hoping Eden Hazard and World Cup winners Kante and Giroud will be fit enough to return. Chelsea have an easier start than rivals Manchester United who face Leicester City and Arsenal who face Manchester City while Liverpool play the reinvented West Ham in their first game.

The Blues will need a more committed and cohesive performance than they delivered against Man City at Wembley on Sunday or David Wagner’s Huddersfield will beat Chelsea especially with their raucous home support willing them on.