Lukaku and Ziyech are doubts for Saints clash

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Hakim Ziyech and Romelu Lukuaku are doubts for Chelsea’s trip to face Southampton.

Boss Thomas Tuchel revealed on Friday afternoon that both players had missed training and will be assessed ahead of the game at St Mary’s.

Ziyech picked up a knock during Chelsea’s Champions League defeat by Real Madrid on Wednesday, while Lukaku is nursing a sore Achilles.


“We are a bit in doubt with Romelu and Hakim Ziyech, so we need to see,” Tuchel explained.

“They were not in training yesterday due to little problems. We hope to have them in training but we need a test and to have confirmation if they are available for tomorrow.”

Tuchel also admitted that Callum Hudson-Odoi is set to remain on the sidelines for some time.

Hudson-Odoi has been struggling with an Achilles injury and also has a back problem.

“It doesn’t look so good at the moment,” Tuchel said.

“I think it’s not a matter of days at the moment, more a matter of weeks.”

Chelsea head to south coast looking to get back to winning ways after two crushing home defeats in the space of four days.

A shock 4-1 loss against Brentford was followed by Real Madrid beating them 3-1 at Stamford Bridge.

“We had a look into it, we talked to the team about it,” Tuchel said.

“We constantly try to figure out how we can improve and we need to stop this kind of direction as soon as possible.

“It’s very not like us to defend like this and concede so many goals. We didn’t see it coming and these two matches were very untypical.”