Injuries could hand chances to Hudson-Odoi and Havertz

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Thomas Tuchel has suggested that injuries to Romelu Lukaku and Timo Werner could give chances to Kai Havertz and Callum Hudson-Odoi to enjoy a run in the Chelsea side.

Lukaku and Werner both went off during the Champions League win over Malmo and appear to be facing spells on the sidelines.

Even so, Chelsea remain among the favourites for the Premier League title, as the odds available via the powerplay website show.

Havertz has struggled for form this season, while Hudson-Odoi is keen to prove himself in his preferred attacking role, having been deployed by boss Tuchel as a wing-back.


Asked if the injuries presented chances for Havertz and Hudson-Odoi, Tuchel said: “Always a chance and necessary to prove a point now.

“We will have some games without Romelu and Timo, so everybody is invited to join the race for minutes on the pitch and when they are on the pitch they need to show the hunger and the determination to be decisive.

“We need goals to win matches and we want to find solutions without Romelu and Timo, that is clear.”

Lukaku suffered an ankle injury while winning a penalty in the 4-0 win, while Werner later picked up a hamstring injury.

But Tuchel insisted he had no regrets about selecting Lukaku despite having spoken in the build-up to the game about him being fatigued.

Tuchel felt it was an ideal opportunity for Lukaku to rediscover his scoring form after six matches without a goal.

Tuchel said: “If I had known it (Lukaku would get injured) before I would not have done it. But how can you know it before?

“It was necessary to have him on the pitch and he started very strong.

“I spoke with him about the situation and that I think he carries a bit of mental fatigue.

“But he’s also our number nine. He’s our reference up front – and the best thing against fatigue is a goal. It was the moment to give him confidence.

“I had a strong belief that he could turn things around in terms of scoring and be decisive.

“No I don’t regret it, because it’s not a muscle injury or from physical fatigue.

“I don’t regret it. Things like this can happen. It’s bad luck.”