Chelsea Team & Injury News: Mourinho Gives Latest On Oscar, Luiz, Eto’o & More

Chelsea travel north to take on Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on Wednesday night looking to close the gap at the top of the Premier League.

The Blues head into the midweek fixtures sitting second in the table – just four points off leaders Arsenal – so will be hoping to cut their rivals advantage tomorrow night.

Boss Jose Mourinho has been speaking at his pre-match press conference this morning and gave a team news and injury update ahead of the game against Sunderland, including the latest on the fitness of Samuel Eto’o, Oscar, David Luiz and Ashley Cole.

Eto’o has missed the last two games with a leg injury picked up against Basel in the Champions League, but Mourinho has confirmed the striker is now back in light training and could be in contention to face the Black Cats.

The Cameroonian international appears to have recovered quicker than expected and the Blues medical staff will make a late decision over his involvement tomorrow.

Oscar was forced off against Southampton on Sunday with an ankle injury and the attacker has been ruled out of Wednesday’s trip to the north-east, and he joins Brazilian team-mate Luiz on the sidelines as the defender continues to recover from a knee injury that’s already kept him out for the last three games.

Mourinho told reporters:

“David Luiz is not training with the team,” he said. “He’s still with the medical department. I don’t know (how much longer).

“Let’s see for the weekend. We’ve been playing quite a long time with John and Gary. I hope I have David so I can rotate a little bit.”

“Eto’o is training with the team so we have to see today,” Mourinho added. “He looks fine.”

“Oscar is not in condition for this match.” [source: London24]

Long-serving defender Ashley Cole has struggled to force his way back into the Chelsea first team in recent weeks following a troublesome rib injury, but Mourinho has confirmed the left-back will get his chance to impress over the next couple of games.

“I think any player that normally start matches, and Ashley starts matched for all his career, when they don’t naturally they are not the happiest guy in the camp.

“But professionally he is always. Team player yes, friend of his friends, yes, so I can also say he deserves to play.

“I don’t know if he will start against Sunderland but one of these two games yes. Sunderland or Stoke, one of these two matches I think he will.

“Or if I decide not to (start Cole), then Steaua next week is a possibility.

“Azpilicueta is playing for a group of consecutive matches and sooner or later I have to chance so Ashley will play soon.

“But in my opinion Azpilicueta is doing really well so it’s a question of Ashley keeping working and waiting for his opportunity.” [source: Daily Star]

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