Chelsea injury list: Blues players out, potential return dates, predicted lineup vs. Sunderland originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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Chelsea will attempt to salvage European qualification from their latest turbulent season when they travel to Sunderland on the Premier League’s final weekend.
The Blues need to match Brentford‘s result to claim Conference League football, and a victory will secure a spot in the Europa League if Brighton fail to beat Manchester United.
Another complication is that Sunderland can qualify for Europe themselves if they beat Chelsea and Brentford don’t do likewise away to Liverpool.
It’s a situation that gives interim head coach Calum McFarlane the chance to sign off in memorable style before making way for incoming boss Xabi Alonso.
The Sporting News brings you all the rest of the Blues’ team news and injury updates.
MORE:An updated list of top goal scorers in the Premier League for the 2025/26 season
Chelsea injury list
Below is the latest injury picture for Chelsea, including estimated return dates for those who are sidelined.
Joao Pedro
- Injury: Hamstring
- Expected return date: May 24 (vs. Sunderland)
Chelsea’s top scorer this season sat out the midweek win over Tottenham but McFarlane revealed he has returned to training and is in contention to face Sunderland.
Levi Colwill
- Injury: Fatigue
- Expected return date: May 24 (vs. Sunderland)
Colwill returned from ACL surgery to complete 90 minutes against Liverpool and Manchester City in the FA Cup final. He sat out in midweek but trained on Friday and is expected to be involved at the Stadium of Light.
Reece James
- Injury: Fatigue
- Expected return date: May 24 (vs. Sunderland)
Similar to Colwill, James sat out the Tottenham game. With a World Cup on the horizon, McFarlane suggested he might play things a little more carefully with the Chelsea captain. “Reece trained today and we’ll play it day by day with him,” he said.
Romeo Lavia
- Injury: Knock
- Expected return date: June/July
Lavia suffered his latest fitness setback when a knock ruled him out of the FA Cup final. Another injury-hit season appears to be at an end Belgian midfielder, who has not been selected in his country’s World Cup squad. Lavia has not featured at international level for three years.
Estevao
- Injury: Hamstring
- Expected return date: June
Young winger Estevao pulled up lame after reaching for a ball early in the defeat to Manchester United in mid-April, and it was clear he could not continue. The Brazilian had only just returned from a prior hamstring injury, and the McFarlane confirmed before the FA Cup semifinal that he will miss the rest of the club season. He was also omitted from Brazil’s preliminary World Cup roster.
Jamie Gittens
- Injury: Hamstring
- Expected return date: June/July
Gittens departed after 25 minutes in the comeback win over West Ham, having picked up a hamstring injury. Tests confirmed he had suffered a muscle tear. After a setback in training while hoping to return in late March, the young winger remained absent through the international break.
While there was a belief he could potentially return in mid-April, he suffered a setback in training just before the 7-0 win over Port Vale in the FA Cup, and a report by Dom Smith of The Standard has claimed that Chelsea are worried he may not return this season.
Chelsea suspension list
Mykhailo Mudryk
- Suspension: Doping
- Expected return date: Unknown
Ukraine international Mudryk has not been available for selection since December 2024 after failing a doping test. He was given a backdated four-year ban but is appealing at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Chelsea predicted lineup vs. Sunderland
Formation: 4-2-3-1
Sanchez (GK)
Gusto, Fofana, Chalobah, Cucurella
Santos, Caicedo
Palmer, Fernandez, Neto
Joao Pedro
Chelsea fixture schedule: Next games
- Chelsea vs. Tottenham | Premier League | Tuesday, May 19
- Sunderland vs. Chelsea | Premier League | Sunday, May 24