Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel confirms four absentees vs Brentford but Lukaku ‘will play’
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Thomas Tuchel has revealed he expects to be without up to four players this weekend when Chelsea take on Brentford. The Blues boss has welcomed back his players from international duty at Cobham but has lost some key players to injuries during the two-week break.
The German has confirmed that his compatriot Antonio Rudiger will be absent for the short trip across west London.
Rudiger picked up a back injury that kept him out of Germany’s World Cup qualifier against Macedonia earlier this week.
The problem will now prevent him from being available this weekend and he’s not the only centre-back who won’t be ready to play.
Thiago Silva has been ruled out of the match after featuring for Brazil in the early hours of this morning.
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The defender played the full 90 minutes as the Selecao romped to a 4-1 victory in Manaus.
Tuchel has conceded he is not best pleased with losing the veteran and the way international fixtures are scheduled just hours before the Premier League returns.
He said: “Are we happy about it, with the amount our players play for their country? No.
“Does anybody ask us? No. It doesn’t change anything. I don’t get any bad [emotions] as we knew it before.”
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Christian Pulisic will also be absent due to an ankle injury as his fitness woes go on.
Hakim Ziyech is also a major doubt for the game after missing a number of Chelsea’s tactical sessions.
But there is good news for Tuchel, who will be able to call upon Romelu Lukaku.
The club’s record signing was sent home as a precaution by Belgium last week after the Nations League semi-final defeat by France.
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Tuchel has confirmed the former Inter Milan frontman “will play tomorrow.”
He said: “Rudiger is not available, Pulisic is still injured and we have doubts for Hakim Ziyech. Romelu is fine and will play tomorrow.”
N’Golo Kante could also return after completing his period of isolation following a positive COVID-19 test.
Reece James is too pushing to feature after recovering from an impact injury picked up against Man City last month.
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