Pochettino Surprised By Chilwell's Quick Return To England Squad After Injury

Mauricio Pochettino, the Chelsea FC manager, expressed his astonishment at Ben Chilwell's participation in two consecutive games for England, especially after the defender's recent comeback from a knee injury. Chilwell, who last started for Chelsea on March 2 against Brentford, had seen limited action for the club before being called up for international duty. Despite this, he played the full match in England's 2-2 draw with Belgium and 67 minutes against Brazil. This development comes as Chelsea prepares to host Burnley at Stamford Bridge, amidst an ongoing injury crisis affecting the team.

Pochettino highlighted the club's injury woes, noting that nine players are currently sidelined and will miss the upcoming Premier League match against Burnley. The situation is further complicated as several squad members, including Chilwell, who sustained a knock in the game against Belgium, are under assessment following their return from international duty. The Argentine manager also mentioned that Enzo Fernandez is due back at Chelsea's Cobham training base after his international stint with Argentina and will be evaluated for fitness.

Unfortunately, three players - Robert Sanchez, Trevoh Chalobah, and Carney Chukwuemeka - are unlikely to be available for selection against Burnley. Chukwuemeka, in particular, returned injured from his engagement with England Under-21s. Adding to Chelsea's challenges is the news that summer signing Romeo Lavia will miss the remainder of the season due to ongoing injury issues. Pochettino shared his sympathy for Lavia, who has managed only 32 minutes of play since his arrival from Southampton for £58 million.

On a positive note, Chelsea's top scorer Cole Palmer is expected to be fit for the Burnley clash. Palmer was unable to participate in England's recent matches due to a minor issue but has since returned to training in good condition. Pochettino conveyed his conversation with Palmer, noting the player's disappointment at not being able to represent his country but confirming his readiness for club duty this weekend.

This series of developments underscores the challenges faced by Chelsea as they navigate through an injury-laden season. With key players out and others returning from international engagements with fitness concerns, Pochettino and his team have their work cut out as they prepare for their next Premier League encounter.