Armando Broja’s availability for Chelsea’s upcoming clash against Tottenham on Monday remains uncertain. In the meantime, Mauricio Pochettino advised caution as Reece James continued his recovery from injury.
James recently made his second start of the season during Chelsea’s midweek Carabao Cup victory over Blackburn Rovers. The Chelsea captain has been gradually regaining full fitness following a hamstring injury he sustained in the opening game of the season against Liverpool.
During the Blackburn match, James was substituted after an hour of play, and Pochettino is unsure whether the right-back can endure the full 90 minutes if he is chosen to start on Monday. Pochettino, the 51-year-old manager, remarked, “I don’t know. We’ll see if he’s available. It was good for him to start a game after a few months; he’s a very important player.”
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Armando Broja, on the other hand, returned in October after an extended absence due to a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament but encountered a setback with his knee. The Albanian striker has been unavailable for the past three matches, but Pochettino is optimistic that the 22-year-old may be able to play a role in Monday’s London derby and provide support to Nicolas Jackson in the forward position. Pochettino expressed, “Today we were talking, and maybe he will be available to be on the bench for Monday. I hope he can be involved.”
Additionally, Chelsea confirmed that Mykhailo Mudryk has resumed full first-team training after missing the last two fixtures due to a minor muscle strain.
Chelsea is eager to rebound in the Premier League after a disappointing 2-0 loss to Brentford last weekend. Nevertheless, they face a challenging test as they visit their London rivals, Tottenham, who currently lead the Premier League and have yet to lose a league match.
The upcoming match also marks Pochettino’s first encounter with Tottenham since his departure in 2019. The Argentine manager expressed his anticipation for the fixture, saying, “It’s strange to come back because always the feeling after four years… it’s going to be, for me, a happy day.”