Chelsea take on Leeds United in the FA Cup semi-final on Sunday afternoon with interim head coach Calum McFarlane now handed a timely injury boost ahead of the trip to Wembley
Joao Pedro has been pictured in Chelsea training today (Thursday) after missing the last two matches due to a thigh injury.
The Brazil international was ruled out of last weekend’s 1-0 defeat to Manchester United with a minor thigh problem. Sources told football.london at the time that Joao Pedro was “touch-and-go” for the match but decided not to risk him. However, he then sat in the stands as the Blues were beaten by his former club Brighton a few days later.
In a boost for interim Chelsea head coach Calum McFarlane, who will take charge of the last five (potentially six if they win on Sunday) matches of the season, the 24-year-old forward has been spotted on the training pitch at Cobham today. Joao Pedro is Chelsea’s top scorer this season with 19 goals in all competitions, and at a time where the Blues are really struggling in the final third – the Blues have failed to score in their last five Premier League fixtures – he is back involved in training.
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Elsewhere, Cole Palmer is not in any of the pictures released by the club as he continues his recovery from a hamstring injury. As reported by football.london prior to Chelsea’s defeat in Brighton on Tuesday evening, the 23-year-old was left out of the matchday squad due to the problem, as he watched, what turned out to be Liam Rosenior’s final game in charge, from the stands.
Estevao Willian, meanwhile, is set to miss the remainder of the season for Chelsea after suffering a serious, grade four, hamstring injury in the weekend’s defeat to Man United. The teenager’s participation in the World Cup for Brazil is now in doubt due to the devastating injury.
McFarlane took training in the Surrey sunshine after being named interim head coach for the second time this season on Wednesday evening. The 40-year-old is gearing his players up for a crucial FA Cup semi-final against Leeds United on Sunday.
We will hear more from McFarlane on the latest injury news in his pre-match press conference that is due to start at 1:30pm (UK time) on Friday afternoon.
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