Chelsea injury update: Palmer, James and Gusto rested as Arsenal semi-final looms

Chelsea were without three key first-team players for Liam Rosenior’s first match in charge, but early indications suggest the absences were precautionary rather than serious.

The Blues cruised past Charlton Athletic 5-1 in the FA Cup despite missing several regular starters, though attention has quickly shifted to Wednesday’s Carabao Cup semi-final first leg against Arsenal.

Here is the latest on Chelsea’s injury situation and potential return dates.

Cole Palmer was left out of the squad as a precaution after picking up a minor knock against Fulham.

Palmer had recently begun to regain rhythm following a groin issue earlier in the season and featured heavily in recent matches, including games against Bournemouth, Manchester City and Fulham.

Speaking after the Charlton win, Liam Rosenior explained the decision.

“Malo, Cole and Reece were precautionary today,” Rosenior said.
“I don’t want to take any risks at this stage of the season. They had minor tweaks or knocks from the Fulham game.”

Potential return date: January 14 vs Arsenal (H)

Chelsea captain Reece James was another precautionary absentee after feeling discomfort following the Fulham match.

James has seen a controlled increase in minutes in recent weeks and was already managed carefully during Calum McFarlane’s caretaker spell.

Rosenior confirmed there was no desire to take unnecessary risks with the defender ahead of a demanding run of fixtures.

Potential return date: January 14 vs Arsenal (H)

Malo Gusto completed the trio rested at the weekend.

The French full-back has been one of Chelsea’s most heavily used players, starting eight of the club’s last nine matches and operating on both flanks.

His omission against Charlton is viewed internally as load management rather than an injury concern.

Potential return date: January 14 vs Arsenal (H)

Romeo Lavia remains sidelined after suffering a muscle issue during Chelsea’s Champions League match against Qarabag in November.

The Belgian has endured a frustrating campaign plagued by recurring niggles, and no clear timetable has yet been set for his return.

Potential return date: Unknown

Levi Colwill is continuing his rehabilitation from an ACL injury sustained during pre-season.

The England defender underwent surgery last summer after tearing his ACL and is not expected to feature again this season.

Colwill had previously started during Chelsea’s Club World Cup run, which ended with a 3-0 final victory over Paris Saint-Germain.

Potential return date: Spring/Summer 2026

Chelsea will reassess all three precautionary absentees ahead of the Carabao Cup semi-final, with Rosenior confident he has sufficient depth to manage workloads carefully during a packed January schedule.

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