Nottingham Forest vs Chelsea: Confirmed team news, injury latest and predicted lineup

Chelsea’s injury problems are beginning to ease with Reece James in contention to feature today against Nottingham Forest.

The Blues are in action away to Forest on Saturday evening having climbed into seventh place with their thumping 5-0 win over West Ham United last time out.

Injury problems have, at long last, begun to ease with Christopher Nkunku making his first appearance since February after coming off the bench late on last time out.

Malo Gusto also returned having not featured since the FA Cup semi-final defeat to Manchester City with a knee issue with Levi Colwill among the subs that day.

James meanwhile has been stepping up his return in training and could be ready to get his first minutes of 2024 this weekend.

‘We need to see today but maybe he can be available to be in the squad,’ Pochettino said on Friday. ‘The most important thing is that he is going to be there with us.

‘Always to have your captain is a massive boost for any team. We have an amazing relationship and of course he is an amazing player.

‘I know it is not easy always when you come from a long-term injury. The most important thing is that he can be available and can be part of the squad, and then if he can play five, 10, 15, 20 or 30 minutes it will be amazing.’

With Enzo Fernandez’s season over, Moises Caicedo and Conor Gallagher have struck up a fine partnership in midfield with a front four of Noni Madueke, Cole Palmer, Mykhailo Mudryk and Nicolas Jackson picking itself in recent weeks.

Chelsea remain without eight players in total with Romeo Lavia and Wesley Fofana still among the long-term absentees.

The Blues have three games of their season left to play, away to Forest and Brighton before returning to Stamford Bridge on the final day of the season.

Predicted Chelsea XI to face Nottingham Forest: Petrovic, Gusto, Silva, Badiashile, Cucurella, Caicedo, Gallagher, Madueke, Palmer, Mudryk, Jackson