Rosenior Delivers Crucial Injury News on James and Palmer Ahead of High-Stakes London Derby
Liam Rosenior has provided a positive injury report regarding Chelsea duo Reece James and Cole Palmer before Saturday's Premier League clash against Brentford.
Both Chelsea skipper James and key playmaker Palmer have missed the last two fixtures due to injuries, being unavailable for the 5–1 FA Cup triumph over Charlton Athletic during Rosenior's first match in charge and the 3–2 loss to Arsenal in the opening leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final.
The Blues are keen to welcome back this vital pair as quickly as possible, ideally for Rosenior's inaugural Premier League match on Saturday. A west London showdown with high-flying Brentford will present difficulties, despite playing at home at Stamford Bridge.
Positively for Chelsea, there's optimism that both English internationals could feature in some form against the Bees, with Rosenior confirming the duo rejoined full training sessions on Thursday.
"Regarding Reece and Cole, they're both participating in training today so we need to evaluate them post-session and ensure they complete all necessary medical checks," stated the Chelsea manager.
"Having them back in the squad would be fantastic and currently, it appears they might be available."
On a more worrying note, Rosenior acknowledged that an illness is circulating within the Chelsea setup. Liam Delap and Jamie Gittens are both affected, along with multiple staff members, while medical personnel work to contain the outbreak.
Rosenior Provides Update on Roméo Lavia Return
Rosenior Provides Update on Roméo Lavia Return
Multiple long-term casualties continue to affect the Chelsea roster. Levi Colwill has been out with an ACL problem since the campaign began, while Mykhailo Mudryk remains temporarily suspended following a positive drug test.
The frequently injured Roméo Lavia is another player struggling with fitness problems this season. Missing since the stalemate with Qarabağ in early November, the Belgian central midfielder has featured in only seven matches across all tournaments since the Club World Cup. Nevertheless, he's returned to outdoor training.
"Roméo is working on the field, he hasn't rejoined the main group yet but we can observe him on the grass completing his rehabilitation. He appears excellent," commented Rosenior, though Lavia remains distant from his return.
"I admire him, initially as a person but equally as a footballer. He's someone I'd be delighted to collaborate with long-term because he's simply an exceptional talent.
"The crucial aspect for him now is ensuring we don't rush his progress, so when he does return, it's permanent and I can implement proper tactical work with him.
"For me, he's a player I'm eager to welcome back into the squad, and I'm genuinely excited about having him rejoin us."