Chelsea squad handed refreshing boost 48 hours to Newcastle game as Eddie Howe rules out key man

Chelsea's manager and players can sleep well knowing that Newcastle will be without Callum Wilson for their trip to Stamford Bridge this weekend.

The nine-capped England international hasn’t featured for Newcastle since the final day of the 2023-24 campaign, the 4-2 win at Brentford in May, after sustaining back and hamstring issues during the second week of pre-season.

There had been reports that Wilson might be in the team, but speaking before their trip to London, the manager explained the need to be patient with the forward and avoid rushing him back, which could risk further injury.

He told reporters ahead of the game: “We’re going to lose Callum for the next three games, definitely. He’s just had some tightness in his body and felt like he can’t push on to that last part needed.

“He had trained with us and looked really good, but with Callum, we are—and he is—hypersensitive to any reaction to the work. He’s got no injury as such; he just isn’t ready to play.”

In addition to Wilson, Newcastle are set to be without Kieran Trippier, Jamaal Lascelles, and Sven Botman, while Chelsea have been boosted in more than one way with the return to full fitness of star man and captain Reece James.

The minutes he played against Liverpool were his first official ones under Enzo Maresca, and he was rested for the midweek game against Panathinaikos. Wesley Fofana and Marc Cucurella, who both missed the game against Liverpool due to suspension, are also back.

Chelsea have only suffered two defeats in the league, against Manchester City and Liverpool. And even though Newcastle have made giant strides in the last few years, Chelsea will feel that given the investment they have made and the players they have, they should be beating them.