Chelsea team news: Injury, suspension list vs. Bournemouth

A Chelsea side decimated by injuries make their return to top-flight action at Stamford Bridge for Tuesday's Premier League showdown with Bournemouth.

Graham Potter's outfit suffered three successive defeats without scoring a single goal ahead of the World Cup break and are languishing in eighth in the table - eight points off the top four with a game in hand on Tottenham Hotspur.

The Blues also went down 1-0 to Aston Villa in their only winter friendly, and a treatment room full to the brim is doing Potter no favours at all.

Here, Sports Mole rounds up Chelsea's latest injury and suspension news ahead of their clash with the Cherries, who are sitting pretty in 14th at present.

Ben Chilwell

Status: Out Type of injury: Hamstring Possible return date: January 5 (vs. Manchester City)

The hamstring injury that Ben Chilwell sustained against Dinamo Zagreb in the Champions League last month ruled him out of the World Cup, and while he has made good progress over the winter, Tuesday's game will still come too soon for him.

N'Golo Kante

Status: Out Type of injury: Hamstring Possible return date: March 4 (vs. Leeds United)

France's N'Golo Kante was also unable to represent his country in Qatar due to his hamstring injury and subsequent surgery, which will likely keep him sidelined until the beginning of March.

Wesley Fofana

Status: Out Type of injury: Knee Possible return date: January 8 (vs. Manchester City)

Kante's compatriot Wesley Fofana has suffered an unfortunate setback in his recovery from a knee injury, and Potter has confirmed that it will be another couple of weeks before the centre-back can return.

Kepa Arrizabalaga

Status: Major doubt Type of injury: Foot Possible return date: December 27 (vs. Bournemouth)

Kepa Arrizabalaga sustained a foot injury when Chelsea lost to Brighton & Hove Albion on October 29, and the Spanish goalkeeper is only thought to have a slim chance of being ready for Tuesday's game.

Armando Broja

Status: Out Type of injury: Knee Possible return date: Unknown

Armando Broja suffered a devastating cruciate ligament injury in Chelsea's winter friendly with Aston Villa, and the Albanian striker will not play again this season as he recovers from surgery.

Mateo Kovacic

Status: Out Type of injury: Other Possible return date: January 1 (vs. Nottingham Forest)

Mateo Kovacic returns to Chelsea with a bronze medal from his deep run at the World Cup with Croatia, but the midfielder is taking a bit more time to recuperate and will not play on Tuesday.

Hakim Ziyech

Status: Out Type of injury: Other Possible return date: January 1 (vs. Nottingham Forest)

Similarly, Hakim Ziyech - whose Morocco side lost to Kovacic's Croatia in the third-placed playoff - remains on a break after making history with the Atlas Lions and will return on New Year's Day instead.

Ruben Loftus-Cheek

Status: Out Type of injury: Calf Possible return date: January 5 (vs. Manchester City)

Ruben Loftus-Cheek came off with a calf injury just five minutes into Chelsea's loss to Newcastle United before the World Cup break, and it could be another couple of weeks before the Englishman is available for selection again.

Mason Mount

Status: Minor doubt Type of injury: Calf Possible return date: December 27 (vs. Bournemouth)

Mason Mount has been dealing with tight calf muscles since returning from World Cup duty with England, but the playmaker is not nursing anything serious and ought to be fine for Tuesday's clash.

CHELSEA'S SUSPENSION LIST

Chelsea have no players suspended for this match.