“I’ve been counting down the days to be back on the pitch, and I’m giving it my all to return stronger than ever!” — A Chelsea star, currently sidelined due to injury, has shared an exciting update with fans by posting a picture of himself working hard in the gym as he edges closer to full recovery.

Chelsea have enjoyed relatively good fortune with injuries this season, a stark contrast to the struggles they faced in the previous campaign. Last season, injuries forced Mauricio Pochettino to lean heavily on academy players, as it was challenging to field a starting XI of senior players during critical moments.

Under Enzo Maresca’s management this season, the situation has improved significantly. Club captain Reece James remains the only long-term absentee, sidelined for the rest of 2024 with another hamstring injury. However, the overall injury count has been minimal.

Wesley Fofana Begins Gym Work After Injury

In recent weeks, Wesley Fofana has joined the list of injured players. The defender, who had been a regular starter in every Premier League match he was available for, was forced off the pitch during the game against Aston Villa. While Fofana downplayed the severity of his injury on social media, Maresca has confirmed that the Frenchman is still a few weeks away from returning to action.

Encouragingly, Fofana’s recovery has reached a stage where he is back in the gym, as seen on his recent Instagram story.

Who Steps in for Fofana Against Tottenham?

It was anticipated that Benoit Badiashile would step up to fill Fofana’s role for Chelsea’s Premier League clash against Tottenham. However, Badiashile was not involved in the defensive duo rotated into action at St. Mary’s midweek, where Tosin Adarabioyo and Axel Disasi formed the partnership at center-back.

The Chelsea Chronicle predicts that Adarabioyo could line up alongside Levi Colwill in the weekend’s London derby, with Badiashile’s absence raising further questions about his availability.

Transfer Rumors Surrounding Badiashile

Reports suggest that Marseille may be targeting Badiashile as they seek to bolster their defense. Despite this, Maresca appears intent on retaining the Frenchman, and his inclusion in the starting lineup against Tottenham would signal the manager’s faith in his abilities.

As Chelsea continue their December campaign, maintaining a solid defense will be key in their push for consistency under Maresca.