Three points were the only acceptable order of the day for Graham Potter and Chelsea when Premier League play resumed on Boxing Day after the extended international break on account of the 2022 World Cup, with the Blues matching expectations on the scoresheet when they came away with a 2-0 win at Stamford Bridge against visiting Bournemouth.
An unfortunate casualty on the day came by way of England star Reece James who is now once again laid up on the treatment table, adding his name to a laundry list of senior figures and first-team options that are now unavailable for the foreseeable future. Still, the result was as timely as ever after Chelsea had limped into the mid-season recess on the back of three straight losses and many began to question Potter’s appointment. Now with a win to freshen up the picture, another expected result should be targeted during their away day against free-spending Nottingham Forest who currently still reside in the bottom three and look ripe for plucking on the back of their defeat against Manchester United.
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- Reece James, Wesley Fofana, N’Golo Kanté, Armando Broja, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, and Ben Chilwell (out)
A continued string of fitness concerns remains Graham Potter’s biggest obstacle in West London this season as Chelsea head out on the road to Nottingham Forest once again without Reece James after the England star is once again laid up in drydock after coming off against Bournemouth.
Potter will also be without Wesley Fofana, N’Golo Kanté, Armando Broja, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, and Ben Chilwell as the Blues’ depth has taken a hit around the turn of the year, but the former Brighton man has welcomed back both Mateo Kovačić and Hakim Ziyech from their extended lay-offs due to deep runs in Qatar, but it is unclear (at the time of writing) if they will be rested given Chelsea’s opponent or pressed into service immediately.
