Thomas Tuchel has said that Callum Hudson-Odoi is ‘weeks rather than days’ away from returning to action, while he also revealed that Romelu Lukaku and Hakim Ziyech are both injury doubts for tomorrow’s trip to Southampton.
The Blues return to Premier League action following Wednesday night’s home Champions League defeat to Real Madrid, with Chelsea looking to get back to winning ways following our loss to Brentford last time out in the league.
The German spoke to the media at Cobham ahead of the clash with the Saints and started by confirming the latest injury news, which included the news that Hudson-Odoi will definitely sit this one out while Lukaku and Ziyech are both doubtful to take to the St Mary’s pitch.
‘Callum Hudson-Odoi is still out and we have a little doubt over Romelu and Hakim Ziyech,’ Tuchel confirmed at his pre-match press conference.
‘They were not in training yesterday and we need to see if they are able to join in today’s session. We need a test and confirmation following training, to see if they are available for tomorrow. Romelu has achilles pain, it's nothing serious but it is just quite painful for him.
‘With Callum, it doesn’t look too good and it is not a matter of days at the moment, its more a matter of weeks.
‘It’s a shame for Callum because it’s a setback for him. He started in the Club World Cup final and had an assist in that game. He was crucial on the left-hand side for us in that game and during that part of the season where he was playing and contributing regularly.
‘It was probably the part of the season where he was playing his most regular football and was doing very well for us, sometimes as a left wing-back but mainly as a more attacking winger on the left.
‘He was growing into his role and suddenly it stopped his season. It is not his fault, of course, but it is certainly a setback for him and for us to have him missing for a while now.’