Chelsea will welcome newly promoted side Luton at Stamford Bridge on Friday, August 25, 2023. The Blues are winless in their first two games of the Premier League season, drawing against Liverpool and losing to 10 men West Ham on Sunday.
Mauricio Pochettino will be without nine senior team members when they face Luton Town on Friday. The latest to add to the injury list is Carney Chukwuemeka, who was forced to be replaced against West Ham after scoring his first goal for Chelsea. Mykhailo Mudryk was reported to have suffered an injury at training during the week.
There were also reports that Armando Broja has reported to training following a long time out with injury.
Providing injury update on Carney Chukwuemeka, Mykhailo Mudryk, and Armando Broja at a Press conference, The Chelsea manager said on Carney Chukwemeka: “I think it is not an issue that will take months, maybe weeks. I hope we can be together as soon as possible with the team again.
“Yes, he scored and then he got injured. Things happen that you cannot manage. A little bit unlucky but I think he can become stronger because he feeling the way he needs to work and compete, he is young and for sure he will be much better when we start again.”
On Mykhailo Mudryk, he added: “I think maybe a few days. He is not going to be available for tomorrow. Very disappointed because of the situation, he played 45 minutes against West Ham. He is a player we hope to help play in the way believe he can perform. Disappointed but at the same time it is not a big issue. Maybe one week or a few days.”
Armando Broja returned to Chelsea training this week. Assessing his readiness to return to match fitness, Pochettino continued: We need to wait also. “He’s close, but sometimes you are close, but last step is difficult after the injury he suffered. He has trained well, we have hope, also. That is why we are assessing the squad and all of the things that happen. It is easy to say we need another offensive players, but I think we have offensive players, and they need to recover.
“If you bring in a player that is not fit or needs to adapt to the Premier League, maybe you are going to spend the same time you wait for Broja, or Nkunku or Carney. Then you are going to create a mess in the squad. That is why we are working really hard to analyse the situation.”
