Chelsea get huge injury boost as Liam Rosenior provides Cole Palmer update after Arsenal scare

Chelsea could welcome some big names back from the treatment room just in time to face Aston Villa on Wednesday night

Liam Rosenior has provided an injury update ahead of Chelsea’s clash against Aston Villa. The Blues could welcome some big names back to the matchday squad when they lock horns with Unai Emery’s side at Villa Park on Wednesday night.

Speaking to reporters at Cobham on Monday afternoon, the Chelsea boss revealed that Marc Cucurella could be available to face the Villans. Last month, the 27-year-old defender suffered a muscle injury during the Blues’ draw to Leeds United at Stamford Bridge.

Cucurella was forced to come off at half-time, and he was replaced by Jorrel Hato, who has since caught the eye in his absence. Rosenior said: “Cucu is looking good, hopefully we can get him back involved if not on Wednesday, then on Saturday.”

The 41-year-old provided an update on Estevao Willian, who sustained a hamstring problem at the end of last month. Rosenior said: “Estevao is back running on the pitch.”

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The Chelsea boss was also asked how close Romeo Lavia is to starting a game. The 22-year-old midfielder enjoyed a brief cameo off the bench in the 2-1 defeat to Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday evening.

“Close. I want to manage him in a different way, in terms of his rehab. Hopefully, he stays fit,” said Rosenior. Cole Palmer suffered a knock during the clash against the Gunners at the weekend, but the Blues boss insisted that he’s available to start.

“It wasn’t [his ongoing groin issue],” said Rosenior. “He took a knock, he was absolutely fine. He’s looking really good. He played 83 minutes. I took him and Enzo off because they were both on yellow cards. He’s absolutely fine to start the game on Wednesday.”

Chelsea have already fallen behind in the race for Champions League qualification, and a defeat to Aston Villa could prove fatal. With so much at stake, Rosenior knows his side are in for a ‘very difficult game’.

The Englishman said: “The reason Aston Villa score great goals is that they have great attacking players. We show individual clips to our players; they know the strengths and weaknesses of each individual they are up against.

“They are very clinical in terms of the xG they create and the value of the goals they score. They are a good team, and it’s going to be tough because they are going to have a reaction to their last result. We have to make sure we are prepared for a very difficult game.”

Rosenior added: “No matter your identity, you adapt it for each game. I think if we’re being rounded in our opinion on the games, I can’t think of one game since I’ve taken over where I think you come away and say that we didn’t deserve to win that.

“Even against West Ham, when we were 2-0 down, we still deserved to win that game. What we haven’t done is take advantage of moments and as a coach, that can be really frustrating.

“But you have to understand it’s part of the process for me to learn about the players, which I’ve said before. What I have learned is that these players are more than capable of performing with the identity I want to play with, but that takes months.

“What we have to do is win in the short-term but also with an eye of being consistently elite in the short term.”

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