Palmer, James & Gusto: Latest Chelsea injury news and return dates ahead of Arsenal in Carabao Cup semi-final

Chelsea head coach Liam Rosenior begun his Blues career with an impressive victory on Saturday as his side won 5-1 in a comfortable FA Cup encounter with Championship side Charlton Athletic.

The former Strasbourg boss was appointed as the successor to Enzo Maresca at Stamford Bridge and will be tasked with turning around the Blues’ mixed run of form in recent weeks, which has seen them drop out of the Premier League top four and win just once in their last nine league matches.

Next up is an important one – as Arsenal visit Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night in what will be a tense first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final tie.

Including the two legs, five London derbies take place for Chelsea in the next month as Rosenior will be put to the test. He will hope to have key players back from injury concerns as soon as possible, amidst the possibility of reinforcements in the January transfer window.

Will Cole Palmer be fit to start against Arsenal on Wednesday?

Cole Palmer was among three key players for Chelsea who did not feature at Charlton, with Rosenior revealing on Saturday that this was due to precaution, with no risks taken for the FA Cup clash following knocks picked up during the Premier League defeat at Fulham in midweek.

“Malo [Gusto], Cole [Palmer] and Reece [James] were precautionary today,” Rosenior said on Saturday. “I don't want to take any risks at this stage of the season. They had minor tweaks or knocks from the Fulham game.

“I feel like I've got such a good squad here, I don't need to risk their health at the moment. We have a huge game on Wednesday [against Arsenal in the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg]. We have a huge game on Saturday [against Brentford]. I'll check the medical reports tonight and tomorrow morning and see how they are then.”

Palmer spent a significant period of time out with groin issues and only returned to action in early December, starting Chelsea’s last seven matches in the league. Rosenior will hope that he can call on the Blues star man from the start on Wednesday.

Chelsea hope to have James and Gusto back for semi-final clash

Captain Reece James and versatile full-back Malo Gusto will both also aim to be fit for selection in midweek after sitting out the FA Cup tie on Saturday.

James has seen an injury-free season thus far for one of the first times in his career, with the trip to The Valley the only time he has not made a match-day squad this term. He has competed for the right-back position with Gusto, with one of the pair often stepping in to play in midfield amidst injury and suspension issues. Rosenior will hope both players are passed match-fit on Wednesday following their ‘precautionary’ rest at Charlton.

In the long-term, Chelsea remain without midfielder Romeo Lavia, who picked up a muscle issue after just seven minutes of the Blues’ Champions League clash in Qarabag in November. It remains unclear when the 22-year-old will return to action.

The same can be said for Levi Colwill, who tore his ACL in pre-season and is set to be out until the back end of the campaign. His long-term injury left the Blues looking light in defensive areas, but a central defender has yet to be brought into the club as their current options have been trusted this term.