Chelsea Team News: Conte Confirms Double Injury Blow Ahead Of Tottenham Clash

Chelsea will be looking to tighten their grip at the top of the Premier League table when they entertain Tottenham at Stamford Bridge on Saturday evening.

Ahead of the game, Antonio Conte has been speaking to the media at his pre-match press conference this afternoon and he’s given Chelseafc.com a team news and injury update.

Unfortunately, the Italian coach confirmed a huge injury blow with the news that skipper John Terry has been ruled out with a gluteus problem which could keep him on the sidelines for up to three weeks.

Terry had only recently got himself back to full fitness after overcoming a niggling ankle injury which kept him on the treatment table for several weeks so this latest setback will be a frustrating one for the defender.

In a double blow, Conte also confirmed that John Obi Mikel will sit out the Tottenham game tomorrow with a muscle injury but the Blues boss hopes the midfielder will be able to return to training inside the next week.

However, there was some positive news as Conte revealed that Willian is back in contention after missing the win over Middlesbrough last week while Kurt Zouma continued to build on his match fitness with another run out for the under-23’s earlier this week.

Conte told Chelseafc.com:

‘John Terry and Obi Mikel are not available,’

‘John has a muscular problem in his gluteus, and he will be out for maybe two or three weeks, I don’t know. It’s a pity because he recovered very well from his last injury and now he needs to stop again.

‘Obi is recovering from a muscular problem and in the next week he will train with us.’

Willian is available again having sat out our most recent victory at Middlesbrough.

‘Willian has come back and now it’s important for him to find good form. In this period, he was unlucky, you know why, and now it’s important to focus on his work and find continuity in the training sessions. Willi is an important player for us and I count on him a lot.’

‘I saw great attitude and great commitment [from Zouma]. I like this type of game because there is great intensity like in the first team. If there is the possibility and the players ask me to play this type of game, then I’m happy.

‘Kurt is working with us, with great continuity. Now it’s of fundamental importance to find good form and go into our idea of football. I am pleased with this because I am seeing, day-by-day, great improvement for Kurt.’

Chelsea welcome Tottenham to west London sitting one point clear at the top of the table but things are tight as fifth-placed Tottenham are just four points behind so it’s all to play for at the Bridge this weekend.