Even Chelsea's overfilled 32-man squad is starting to look thin in areas with a set of injuries close to rivalling the entire XI they had out over the winter period. Right now, Frank Lampard has eight players either already ruled out for the season or almost certain not to return.
It is a list of injuries that covers the entire field but specifically hits the backline hard. Marc Cucurella, Reece James and Ben Chilwell were already doubts to return before the final game of the season against Newcastle, leaving Trevoh Chalobah a way back into the side. Benoit Badiashile's three-month setback gives Lampard even less room to play with.
There may not be anything of any true reward to gain from the last two matches but Lewis Hall and Carney Chukwuemeka were still kept from going on international duty with England Under-20s in order to cover for their senior teammates.
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For the incoming Mauricio Pochettino it is a big question he must find the answer to. How can he turnaround the no-longer unfortunate series of injuries? Such is the list of knocks throughout the season, 10 players have missed 10 games or more already this season and four have missed 20 or more; it is not just a coincidence.
Todd Boehly and Co made decisive cuts to the physios at Chelsea early in their days as owners but have since been made to pay with an unsettled treatment room now helping to foster a positive recovery environment.
For a coach as demanding physically as Pochettino it is an immediate worry. The Argentine has strict rules in place to keep his players fit and on top of their game. Tottenham and Southampton both topped running charts during his time in the Premier League and with a young squad it is expected he will set out to do the same again at Stamford Bridge.
Both Pochettino's son, Sebastiano, and Miguel D'Agostino - Miki - are hot on the fitness of players whilst Jesus Perez also plays a key role in upholding his demands throughout training with videos and cameras placed around the ground. He will have to do more than just that to repair the damage done to this squad this season, though.
Chelsea's defence has become unbalanced with players at both ends of their careers and very few in what could conceivably be their prime years. Badiashile's injury, therefore, opens up even more room for the return of Levi Colwill but also puts into context their previous interest in Croatian star Josko Gvardiol.
The 21-year-old was heavily linked with a move to SW6 in the summer before he signed a new deal. The same links emerged once more after his impressive World Cup. After the signing of Badiashile and the stacked backline it appears that the Gvardiol ship has sailed but continued fitness issues could change that.
His price, according to German outlet Bild, is still set to be over €100million (£86.9million). For a club with other areas in more need of investment that would be a huge outlay for a player that will face competition not just for Colwill and Badiashile but also expensive additions Wesley Fofana, Kalidou Koulibaly and even Thiago Silva.
Unless there are big outgoings at the back, with only Cesar Azpilicueta likely to leave even with Chalobah also a possible departure too, then there doesn't appear to be room for Gvardiol as well.
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