Aston Villa v Chelsea injury news as seven ruled out and two doubts

Chelsea are back in action this weekend after another impressive performance in Europe.

The Blues saw off AC Milan for the second time in as many weeks, with Jorginho and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang both on target.

Chelsea are now well on their way to progressing to the Champions League Round of 16, and they now turn their attention back to the Premier League.

Graham Potter has enjoyed a solid start to life at Stamford Bridge, taking Chelsea back into the top four, but the games continue to come thick and fast as the Premier League jams in fixtures before the World Cup break.

A trip to the Midlands is next up, with the Blues taking on Aston Villa at Villa Park on Sunday.

Ahead of that one, Reece James is a doubt after picking up an injury during the week.

“We’re hoping he’ll be ok. We’ll need 24 to 48 hours. We’ll know more after that,” Potter said after the game.

Hakim Ziyech should be in contention after battling illness, while N’Golo Kante is out.

“He had a reaction in training, so we’re just waiting for the news on that,” said Potter. “It’s not ideal and disappointing for him and for us, so we have to wait and see the extent of it and then go from there.”

Wesley Fofana is also out for this one after spraining his knee.

Villa should get Leon Bailey back here, with Steven Gerrard updating: “He was out on the training pitch on Sunday running at 70 or 80 per cent. Hopefully with no reaction we can have him available.”

But Villa will be without centre-back Diego Carlos for much of the season.

Boubacar Kamara will be out for a couple of months yet, while Lucas Digne is sidelined with an ankle injury.

Jed Steer is another absentee, with Ludwig Augustinsson a fresh blow due to a hamstring injury.

Gerrard said: “Luda [Augustinsson], we’ve had confirmation that he has a hamstring injury so that will be three weeks, give and take.”

Augustinsson is set to return in late October.