Chelsea ace a doubt for West Ham game as Potter offers latest team news

Chelsea boss Graham Potter offers an update on the team news with Raheem Sterling doubtful

Speaking to the media ahead of the West Ham United game (h/t Football.London), Chelsea boss Graham Potter offered updates on the availability of a few players and also confirmed that Raheem Sterling is a doubt.

As reported in the week, Potter welcomed Wesley Fofana and Denis Zakaria back into team training. While doing so, he said that Sterling has had a kick in the training and is doubtful for the game against the Hammers.

In other good news, the manager shared that midfielder Mateo Kovacic is back in team training, although Saturday’s match might come too soon for the Croatian.

Chelsea boss Graham Potter offers an update on the team news with Raheem Sterling doubtful.
Graham Potter has confirmed that Raheem Sterling is doubtful for the West Ham game. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

Here’s what Potter said (h/t Football.London):

“Players are getting closer and closer. Wesley [Fofana] has been training with the team, Denis Zakaria has been training with the team. We’ve had a little setback with Raheem [Sterling] he had a little kick in training on the side of his knee, so we’re assessing him and he is doubtful for tomorrow. Mateo [Kovacic] has trained with the team but it’s too soon for him. But we’ve got some options.”

Amidst all that, this is also a game where Joao Felix is back from his three-game suspension following a straight red card on his Chelsea debut against Fulham a few weeks ago.

We saw Reece James and Ben Chilwell come back into the team last week and played some part against Fulham. Add that to the fact that Zakaria and Fofana are back in the reckoning, it is strengthening the quality of our squad going into the next few important games.

Chelsea boss Graham Potter offers an update on the team news with Raheem Sterling doubtful.
Potter welcomes back Denis Zakaria in team training ahead of the weekend. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

We can only hope that Sterling’s knock isn’t serious enough to keep him out for many days. With the Borussia Dortmund tie awaiting in the Champions League, it is important that as many players come back from their injuries as possible.

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Chelsea have not conceded a goal in their last three league games. With the defensive solidity restored, it is time to score a few goals. If we have to keep our hopes of finishing in the top four alive, players in the forward line have to start scoring. The West Ham game won’t be easy irrespective of the Hammers’ position in the table.