Chelsea defender Trevoh Chalobah has said he has nevertheless recovered from a long injury absence.
The versatile Blues centre-back has not played at all this season having suffered the recurrence of a hamstring issue in training back in August.
Alongside midfielder Carney Chukwuemeka, Chalobah suffered a setback in his recovery from that injury in October and has been rehabbing ever since.
Chelsea’s latest official injury update released in advance of Tuesday night’s Carabao Cup semi-final first-leg tie away at Middlesbrough said the 24-year-old was “continuing to undergo his rehabilitation programme”.
Chalobah later published a picture of himself working outside in training gear at Cobham alongside the caption: “I am healed in Jesus name.”
Despite Chalobah’s obvious return to form, it remains to be seen whether he will be noticed as a realistic first-team option under Mauricio Pochettino in the future.
The former England Under-21 international came close to leaving Chelsea over the summer before his injury, having seen a potential switch to German giants Bayern Munich collapse at the 11th hour.
Chalobah has also reportedly rejected a potential move to Nottingham Forest ahead of the summer deadline and will stay at Stamford Bridge.
However, recent reports have suggested that Chelsea remain open to allowing the defender to leave in the January transfer window, but potentially only on loan following previous temporary stints with the likes of Ipswich, Huddersfield and French club Lorient.
In the past, Tottenham have been linked with Chalobah, while Roma manager Jose Mourinho is now said to be in favour of a deal.
Chalobah arrived here through Chelsea’s academy, following in the footsteps of his older brother Nathaniel, and has made 63 appearances in all competitions since his departure in 2018 but may want to move on to rejuvenate his stagnant career.
Chalobah is now firmly Thiago Silva, Axel Disasi, Levi Colwill and Benoit Badiashile in the west London defensive pecking order under Pochettino, with Wesley Fofana likely ahead of him as well as he recovers from his serious knee injury suffered this summer.
Lately, Chelsea remain plagued by injuries as they look for a fourth successive win against Middlesbrough, with Chalobah joining Christopher Nkunku, Romeo Lavia, Reece James, Robert Sanchez, Marc Cucurella, Ben Chilwell, Chukwuemeka, Fofana and Badiashile on the missing list. They will face other championship rivals at Riverside Stadium after Saturday’s 4-0 FA Cup third-round win over Preston, and striker Nicolas Jackson will also feature in the Africa Cup of Nations with Senegal.
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