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MAURICIO POCHETTINO has a left-back dilemma with Ben Chilwell and Levi Colwill having both been ruled out by injuries.
Chelsea are set to host Newcastle in the Premier League on Monday night.
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Chilwell, 27, has been sent to see a specialist after suffering a knee injury.
Colwill, meanwhile, has begun rehab for a separate issue.
The 21-year-old’s absence, coupled with Chilwell’s, leaves boss Pochettino with a conundrum to solve.
Marc Cucurella returned to training last week after recovering from ankle surgery.
The Spaniard was deemed fit enough for the bench last weekend but did not come on in Chelsea’s 2-2 draw at Brentford.
He has not featured since November.
Academy product Alfie Gilchrist is primarily thought of as a centre-half, but has featured at full-back too.
He started at left-back as Chelsea beat Leeds 3-2 in the FA Cup last month.
Across the defence, Wesley Fofana is unlikely to return this season, while Benoit Badiashile has not yet returned to full first team training.
Skipper Reece James also remains out with a hamstring injury.
Pochettino, 52, has been handed another fresh blow, with Conor Gallagher missing out due to illness.
Romeo Lavia and Lesley Uguchuwku also remain missing, while Christopher Nkunku is undergoing rehab.
On Chelsea’s injury woes, Pochettino said: “It’s very frustrating and disappointing, because the situation has never allowed us [to] work with the full squad.
“Yes, we are suffering this kind of negativity in terms of injuries, but we cannot stop believing and stop working. We need to give confidence to the players who will play on Monday.”
Chelsea go into this weekend’s matches sitting 11th in the Premier League table.
A win, however, could see them climb to within one point of eight-placed Newcastle.
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