Chelsea captain Cesar Azpilicueta and teammate Ruben Loftus-Cheek both had to be substituted due to calf injuries in the 1-0 defeat to Newcastle at the weekend.

Manager Graham Potter claimed that Azpilicueta is unlikely to be sidelined for too long but there has been no update on the severity of Loftus-Cheek’s issue.

Raheem Sterling was not in the squad for the trip to St James’ Park due to illness while Carney Chukwuemeka has a troublesome hamstring problem which he hasn’t fully recovered from.

Kepa Arrizabalaga has been sidelined with a foot injury which forced him off during the 4-1 defeat to Brighton last month and Potter has said that the Spaniard has suffered a minor setback in his recovery.

Both Reece James and Wesley Fofana have knee injuries, and they will be expecting to be fit and available for the Blues’ first game after the World Cup versus Bournemouth.

Ben Chilwell and N’Golo Kante have hamstring problems, with the latter not expected to be back in action until February after undergoing surgery.