Raheem Sterling has joined Chelsea’s rising harm checklist after a knock in coaching. The English ahead is a doubt for its Premier League London derby at West Ham United, supervisor Graham Potter mentioned on Friday.
The 28-year-old is Chelsea’s eighth participant to be sidelined with harm, becoming a member of different forwards like Christian Pulisic and Armando Broja, and long-term absentees N’Golo Kante and Edouard Mendy.
Sterling has struggled to breed his Manchester City kind following his 50 million kilos (60.55 million USD) transfer to Chelsea, scoring solely 4 targets in 16 league appearances.
“We’ve had a little setback with Raheem (Sterling) he had a little kick in training on the side of his knee, so we’re assessing him and he is doubtful for tomorrow,” Potter informed reporters forward of Saturday’s recreation.
“Players are getting closer and closer. Wesley (Fofana) has been training with the team, Denis Zakaria has been training with the team.
“Mateo (Kovacic) has trained with the team but it’s too soon for him. But we’ve got some options.”
Potter will probably be boosted by the return of Joao Felix after the Portuguese ahead served his three-match suspension following his crimson card on his Chelsea debut final month.
“We all saw the impact he had in his 60 minutes before the red card. You can see his quality, see it every day,” Potter mentioned.
“He’s a player who can make a difference for us but we have to help him get integrated into the team, for him to understand what we’re trying to do. But the signs are very positive.”
Chelsea is trying to win its first away recreation within the league since October, a run of six matches which included three losses at Potter’s former membership Brighton & Hove Albion, Newcastle United and Fulham.
“It’s not a statistic we like. Going away from home in the Premier League is not straightforward and the problems we’ve been having in terms of injuries haven’t made it easy,” Potter mentioned.
“But it’s something we’re trying to address. We have to start with West Ham. I’ve been there with Brighton and had a decent record. But it’s a different context, a London derby with no love lost between the two teams.”
Potter additionally confirmed there was “nothing to report” on rumours of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in search of a mortgage transfer after the striker was not noted of Chelsea’s Champions League squad.
“He is conducting himself well, a really good professional, and supporting his team mates,” he added.
“While he is here, he’s doing exactly what I expect him to do, which is to train well and act well.”
Source: sportstar.thehindu.com