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The latest injury news ahead of Chelsea versus Bournemouth on Tuesday evening with both sides set to be missing a host of players as the Premier League season reaches its halfway point
Chelsea have an immediate opportunity to bounce back on Tuesday night as they take on Bournemouth under the lights at Stamford Bridge.
Around 72 hours separate the Blues' disappointing defeat to Aston Villa and their hosting of the Cherries with the west Londoners receiving heavy criticism after their most recent loss. Chelsea were dominant in the first-half against Villa and should have gone into the break with more than a one-goal advantage, and were left to rue their missed opportunities.
Enzo Maresca is trying to get to the bottom of Chelsea's struggles to see some games out. The Blues' defeat on Saturday evening was the fourth time they have dropped points from a winning position in their first nine home matches of this Premier League season.
Adding to the west Londoners' problems on Saturday was Marc Cucurella being forced off in the second-half. The Spain international was replaced by Malo Gusto around the 70-minute mark after he complained to the coaching staff about some pain in his hamstring, leaving doubts over whether the left-back will be able to feature against Bournemouth on Tuesday night.
His deputy, Jorrel Hato, has been ruled out of the fixture. Hato picked up a knock during the half-time warm-up in Chelsea's 2-2 draw away at Newcastle United recently and the Dutchman did not make the squad for the defeat to Villa at the weekend.
Dario Essugo is believed to not be too far away from returning to action but the midfielder is likely to miss the visit of the Cherries. There has been no update on Romeo Lavia in a while but the Belgian remains sidelined, while long-term absentee Levi Colwill is still recovering from an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury he suffered in pre-season.
Meanwhile, Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola is set to be missing quartet Veljko Milosavljevic, Ben Doak, Tyler Adams and Matai Akimboni for the trip to Stamford Bridge, with the two sides going head-to-head for the second time in less than a month. On December 6, the Blues were held to a goalless draw down at the Vitality Stadium in a frustrating afternoon for Maresca's men.
Chelsea had 11 shots that day but were unable to break the Cherries down and it was a similar issue on Saturday. The Blues recorded 15 shots against Aston Villa but found the back of the net just once as missed chances became the talking point from a Chelsea perspective.
Maresca said on his side's struggles in front of goal: "It's general. We arrived so many times there, outside with the wingers. I think tonight we were 1v1 so many times between first half and second half. Inside the box, it's a general situation where in the last third we can do better."
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