Chelsea v Wolves: Injury news on Kante, Kovacic, Lukaku & others ahead of Premier League clash

Chelsea have little time to lick their wounds after only managing a draw against Everton on Thursday night in the Premier League.

They have to quickly move on because they will need all three points at the Molineux to avoid falling further behind to Manchester City in the title race.

The European Champions are missing a host of key players to injury and isolation due to Covid-19 so here we take a look at who could be in for the game in the midlands this weekend.

N’Golo Kante

The French midfielder made a return to the bench against Everton but did not get on the pitch.

You’d think he will get some minutes against Wolves with the Blues almost desperate for a win.

Trevoh Chalobah

Having missed a couple of games due to injury, the young defender made a return against Everton as a substitute and should be ready for a start at the Molineux.

Romelu Lukaku

This game comes too early for Lukaku who is isolating after testing positive for Covid-19.

It’s been a stop-start to his second stint at Chelsea as he is only just returning from an ankle injury.

Callum Hudson-Odoi

The academy graduate was playing some of the best football of his career and will be gutted to have tested positive for Covid-19 too. Unlucky.

He is also expected to miss out.

Timo Werner

Another player who has tested positive for Covid-19 and will not be part of the team for the weekend’s game.

Mateo Kovacic

Kovacic has been incredibly unlucky in recent times at Chelsea.

He had a strong start to the season and then picked up a seemingly harmless injury that ended up keeping him out for weeks.

Then when the Croat returned to training ended up testing positive for Covid-19.

He’s now back in full training and should be in the matchday squad for the visit to the Black Country.

Ben Chilwell

Chilwell picked up an injury in Chelsea’s 4-0 victory against Juventus in the Champions League, and there were concerns that he could be out for the rest of the season.

But initial indications by the medical staff are that he could be back earlier than anticipated.

Thomas Tuchel revealed he was responding well to the treatment, but the game against Wolves comes way too soon for him.

Jorginho

The Italian midfielder has been a key part of the Chelsea set up since Tuchel took over, but has been playing with pain.

Tuchel revealed he was a doubt for for the game against Wolves.

Ruben Loftus-Cheek

Another player who started the game against Everton but came off and is now a doubt for the visit to the Molineux.

What manager Thomas Tuchel said at the press conference ahead of the game

The Chelsea manager said: “We do not have any positive cases at the moment and we have Kai back which is good news for us.”

On calls for this weekend’s game Tuchel said it would be helpful if there was clarity on how many cases it would take to get a game postponed.

He added: “If they want to, they can. its not in our hands but clarity is very good and will be helpful for everyone.

“I know the rules now, I did not get involved too early.

“I read them and immediately forgot them as there were too many but if they made them available would quite helpful to everyone involved in the game.”