Chelsea has one of their biggest matches of the season coming up this Sunday when they host Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge.


The Blues desperately need all three Premier League points if they want to finish inside the top four this season and get their Champions League place for the 2018/19 campaign.


With the international break well under way, Antonio Conte will be hoping that none of his key players pick up injury concerns for the last eight league games, plus the FA Cup semi-final against Southampton on April 22.

But who is struggling for Sunday's game with Spurs and who should still make the match?

Thibaut Courtois

After a disappointing night in Barcelona, the 25-year-old suffered a hamstring injury in training and missed the FA Cup Leicester City clash, however, did join up with Belgium during the international break.

However, Red Devils head coach Roberto Martinez confirmed that the goalkeeper had been sent back to his club. "Thibaut Courtois, from a coaching perspective, will not be fit for Tuesday but could be okay to play at the weekend [against Tottenham] for his club. For Tuesday it is too early and a risk.
"I think it's a great opportunity for Simon [Mignolet] to have back-to-back international fixtures.

"We are not going to take any chances with anyone. The medical team felt he [Courtois] would not be 100 percent for Tuesday."

Despite the injury, Courtois is expected to back in time to face Spurs on Sunday.
Chelsea defender Andreas Christensen. (Image: Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
Andreas Christensen

The young Dane has been a crucial member of the Blues this season and there were worries that he could miss the Spurs clash having been send back from international duties with 'muscle fatigue'.

"Andreas Christensen has been sent home to London. We do not want to take any risks with him," Denmark head coach Age Hareide said.
"We have called up Peter Ankersen and Lasse Nielsen, so we are adequately covered in defense. I cannot say exactly what is wrong with Christensen, but it is a little fatigue.

"It’s not serious, but it can be. It is a bit frustrating because we would have liked to trial him in both central defense and as a defensive midfielder."

However, the 21-year-old is expected to be back in time to face Spurs on Sunday.
Ross Barkley


It's been an unbelievably frustrating start to life for Barkley at Chelsea with just three appearances for the Blues since joining at the beginning of January.

The 24-year-old missed the whole beginning of the season with Everton having to undergo surgery on his hamstring. Because of that, the midfielder has had several setbacks, picking up niggling knocks and strains.
However, having trained on his own, Barkley is expected to be back in full training with the rest of the squad when they return from the international break.

David Luiz

The defender has been dropped from the starting XI since early in the season as the performances of Christensen and his own dip in form meant that the Brazilian was replaced.

The 30-year-old has played just four times in 2018 and has been struggling with an ankle injury, having recovered from his knee problem earlier in the season.

Conte has continuously had to defend the fact that Luiz is actually injured, but Luiz could be back in time for Spurs as well.
Ethan Ampadu

Unfortunately, after a very promising start to life at Chelsea, Ampadu's season is over after fracturing his ankle during the U19's UEFA Youth League match with Real Madrid.
The 17-year-old had been set to join up with Wales under new boss Ryan Giggs, but he is going to have to wait until next season to get the chance to impress once again.

England has confirmed the date and venue for a pre-World Cup friendly against Nigeria.

The official Twitter account of the English national team listed Nigeria as one of two opponents heading into the 2018 finals in Russia.

England will host Nigeria at the famous Wembley Stadium on Saturday, 2 June, followed by a clash against Costa Rica at Elland Road five days later.


The Three Lions will be using the clash against Nigeria as preparation for their Group G opener against Tunisia on 18 June in Volgograd.

England and Nigeria have met in two previous matches, with the former claiming a 1-0 win in an international friendly in November 1994, while the teams’ 2002 World Cup group stage clash ended in a goalless draw.

Meanwhile, the Polish federation has confirmed that their national team will face Nigeria on March 23.

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has confirmed the Super Eagles will be playing 5 different countries in friendly games as part of its preparation for Russia 2018 World Cup.

These countries are England, Poland, DR Congo, Serbia and the Czech Republic.

According to Jairo Pachon, NFF’s official match agent, these games are planned to get the Super Eagles familiar with the playing pattern of their World Cup opponents.
Coach (Rohr) stressed the importance of playing teams with a similar style to their World Cup opposition and we've got two going to Russia from eastern Europe.

"The game against DR Congo in May will afford the fans, media and everyone the opportunity to see the Super Eagles play before they fly out to Europe to conclude preparations," Pachon added.
Details of Nigeria World Cup friendlies

The Super Eagles will be making its sixth appearance at the World Cup and hope to make it count this time. Towards achieving this goal, the country has lined-up some friendlies games and the details are given below.
i. Nigeria vs Poland

The first friendly would be between the Super Eagles and Poland. The match will be played on March 23, 2018, in Poland.

The Polish football association confirmed this friendly and said the venue for the game is yet to decide.

“We can confirm that on March 23, we’re playing with Nigeria, a decision on the venue of the match is yet to be made.” Poland PZPN spokesman Jakub Kwiatkowski said.
ii. Nigeria vs Serbia

The Super Eagles game with the Serbian team would be the second World Cup preparation match for the Nigerian team. The match would be played in the United Kingdom and the proposed date is March 27, 2018.
iii. Nigeria vs DR Congo

After playing two friendly matches in March 2018, the Super Eagles will return to Nigeria to have encountered with DR Congo at the Abuja National Stadium.

The game is planned for May 28, 2017.
iv. Nigeria vs England

On June 2, 2018, the Super Eagles will be playing the Three Lions in a friendly game at the Wembley Stadium, London.
v. Nigeria vs the Czech Republic

Lastly, the Super Eagles will get down with the Czech Republic on June 6, 2018, in Austria. This game will be used conclude the whole World Cup preparation.

Super Eagles manager, Gernot Rohr explained why this last match is important for the Super Eagles.

"The opening game is the most important match and we hope to prepare for it - against opponents similar to Croatia," Rohr to the BBC.