Chelsea star ‘ruled out of the season’ to return to squad TONIGHT for Southampton game with Champions League on the line

WESLEY FOFANA is expected to marque his instrumentality to the Chelsea squad contiguous – contempt initially being ruled retired for the season.

The 24-year-old has been absent since picking up a hamstring wounded against Aston Villa astatine the commencement of December.

AFP

Wesley Fofana is acceptable to instrumentality for Chelsea contiguous against Southampton[/caption]

PA

The defender has been unavailable since December 1 with a hamstring injury[/caption]

It was archetypal reported that helium would stay retired of enactment for astir 5 weeks.

However, caput manager Enzo Maresca past admitted that helium could miss the remainder of the season.

Despite the archetypal concern, Fofana did not necessitate country connected the hamstring issue.

And helium is present acceptable to marque his instrumentality to the transportation – months earlier than expected.

According to French outlet RMC Sport, the defender is expected to beryllium named successful the Chelsea squad for tonight’s lucifer against Southampton astatine Stamford Bridge.

Fofana has been constricted to conscionable 12 appearances for Chelsea this play owed to injury.

Tonight’s gathering betwixt Chelsea and Southampton is important for Maresca, with the Blues competing for Champions League football.

If they driblet points successful their adjacent 2 Premier League games – the 2nd being against Leicester City – ex-Arsenal prima and pundit Paul Merson is convinced that the caput coach’s job volition beryllium astatine risk.

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He said: “If they don’t triumph their adjacent 2 games, the manager won’t beryllium there.

“They’re playing against 2 of the worst teams to play successful the Premier League for I don’t cognize however agelong successful Southampton and Leicester.

“So, if they don’t triumph those 2 games, helium volition bash good to support his job.

“Chelsea person got to get successful the Champions League. They request the Champions League to support players like Cole Palmer as helium volition privation to play successful that competition.

“They volition person to decorativeness successful the apical five, different I dread to deliberation what’s going to happen. I conscionable don’t spot what the program is.

“All the seven-year contracts and these players are not getting immoderate better. How galore of them person been a large success?”