Liam Rosenior has confirmed Marc Cucurella will miss Chelsea’s Premier League clash with Burnley on 21 February 2026, while Cole Palmer and Reece James are available for selection.
The Blues return to league action at Stamford Bridge following their 4-0 FA Cup win over Hull City, and Rosenior provided clarity on his squad situation during Thursday’s media briefing at Cobham.
Marc Cucurella ruled out for Burnley clash
Cucurella continues to recover from a hamstring injury sustained just before half-time in the draw against Leeds earlier this month.
“I can't give an exact timeframe on Marc,” Rosenior said.
“He suffered a hamstring injury just before half-time in the Leeds game. It's a real shame because he's an outstanding player, and one of the best left-backs in the world.”
Rosenior stressed that alternatives are available, referencing Jorrel Hato and Malo Gusto as cover options on the left side.
“It’s a shame not to have Marc available but we have Jorrel and we have Malo who can play on that side, so we have really good players that can cover.”
No return date has been confirmed, and his availability for next week’s fixture remains uncertain.
Cole Palmer and Reece James fit and ready
There was better news regarding Palmer and club captain James, whose minutes have been managed carefully in recent weeks.
Rosenior confirmed both players trained fully on Thursday and, pending Friday’s final session, are expected to feature against Burnley.
“With Reece and Cole, it’s based on day by day,” Rosenior added.
“At the moment they are both fully fit and both available for selection. They both trained really well today.”
| Availability vs Burnley | Status |
|---|---|
| Marc Cucurella | Out (Hamstring) |
| Cole Palmer | Available |
| Reece James | Available |
source: club media briefing – 19 February 2026
Chelsea enter the weekend fifth in the Premier League, two points clear of Liverpool and six behind third-placed Aston Villa.
What’s Next
Chelsea host Burnley at 3pm GMT on Saturday, 21 February 2026. With a full training week behind them, Rosenior will be aiming for a controlled performance against Scott Parker’s side.
A positive result would consolidate their position in the European race heading into a tougher run of fixtures.
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