The Chelsea squad enjoyed a three-day break but are now back at the team's Surrey training base in Cobham ahead of their must-win Carabao Cup semi-final second leg against Championship side Middlesbrough.
Pochettino knows the game against Boro is season-defining and he highlighted the importance of giving the players time off before they returned for the crunch tie at Stamford Bridge. They signed off for the break with a 1-0 win over Fulham in the league and have now jumped into the top half of the table.
Things are beginning to look up for Pochettino whose team have made it to the fourth round of the FA Cup, still in with a chance to reach the final of the League Cup and can still finish in a European spot.
A massive improvement to the football and results they had last season when they finished 12th in the end and needed a complete rebuild to inject pace, energy and a new hunger into the squad. There have been challenges along the way, with captain Reece James and his assistant Ben Chilwell battling long-term injuries. Chilwell has only just returned to the squad after months out.
Home defeats to Nottingham Forest, Aston Villa and Brentford have rocked the boat but performances against the top sides have shown that the team is looking up and determined to return the club to their previous high grounds.
They will have to start on Tuesday night and Pochettino will be hoping to recover players for that. So here is the complete list of their injured players and their potential return dates.
1. Romeo Lavia
Won't play again this season. Will return in the summer. | Getty Images
2. Wesley Fofana
Has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a knee injury. Expected back in the summer. | Getty Images
3. Reece James
He's back in training on the field at Cobham but still no clarity on when he'll return. Sources say he's determined to play at the Euros. | AFP via Getty Images
4. Lesley Ugochukwu
Suffered a thigh injury and it's not clear when he'll return. | Getty Images