The Blues are set to welcome back players who could provide a vital boost to the team’s hopes for a top-five finish
Chelsea coach Liam Rosenior has offered positive updates on several key players ahead of a pivotal Premier League meeting with Manchester United on Saturday.
The West London club welcome the third-placed Red Devils to Stamford Bridge, desperate to arrest a recent slump in league form and maintain their challenge for Champions League qualification.
The return of senior personnel comes at a vital time for Chelsea, who currently sit sixth in the Premier League, five points adrift of the final Champions League spot.
Enzo Fernandez, who served a two-match internal ban following recent remarks, is expected to be a central figure in those efforts, having returned to full first-team training after a short period away.
The Argentine midfielder was absent for the resounding FA Cup victory over Port Vale and missed last weekend’s fixture against Manchester City, but Rosenior confirmed on Friday that his star playmaker is “business as usual” regarding availability.
The Chelsea boss praised the midfielder’s application since reintegrating with the squad, noting that the group has responded fantastically to his return.
“Enzo has been with the group and has been training very, very well,” Rosenior said. “So, it’s business as usual in terms of selection for the game.”
While the midfield gains reinforcements, the defensive situation remains a point of focus for the medical staff.
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Trevoh Chalobah, who has been sidelined since the Champions League quarter-final second leg against Paris Saint-Germain, took part in a modified training session on Friday.
Rosenior suggested that a final decision on the defender would be made closer to kick-off, though he remains “very, very close” to a competitive return.
However, the news regarding club captain Reece James was more measured, as the Chelsea right-back is still recovering from the injury sustained during the loss to Newcastle on March 14 and is considered “a little bit further away” than his defensive colleague.
Long-term absentee Levi Colwill nears first-team return
The most encouraging update from the Cobham training ground concerned Levi Colwill, who is finally on the verge of making his first appearance of the 2025/26 campaign.
The highly-rated centre-back has been unavailable since suffering a severe knee ligament injury during the pre-season tour, but his lengthy rehabilitation is nearing its conclusion.
Rosenior revealed that Colwill is scheduled to play significant minutes in a behind-closed-doors friendly for the Under-21s on Friday, a crucial step designed to test his match fitness in a controlled environment.
“I’m hoping [we’ll see Levi before the end of the season] as Levi is an outstanding player and a leader in the dressing room,” he said.
“Levi will play some minutes with the Under-21s tomorrow, which is fantastic for him. When you have a long-term injury, to the extent of Levi’s injury, you need a long rehab period. I want to make sure he is 100 per cent right in terms of his match fitness before we consider him for our first team.
“It [the game] has not been set up especially for him, but it’s something that we think is right for him in this moment.”
