Chelsea team news: Injury, suspension list vs. Southampton

Chelsea welcome Southampton to Stamford Bridge on Boxing Day looking for back-to-back wins for the first time since October.

Frank Lampard got one over on his former boss Jose Mourinho on Sunday as Chelsea ran out 2-0 winners at Tottenham Hotspur, ending a poor run of four defeats from their previous five league outings.

The result increased their lead in the top-four race to four points, and another victory over a Southampton side battling against relegation will help to strengthen their grip on the final Champions League place.

Here, Sports Mole rounds up Chelsea's latest injury and suspension news ahead of the contest.

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Status: Major doubt Type of injury: Hamstring Possible return date: December 26 (vs. Southampton)

Cesar Azpilicueta came off 10 minutes from the end against Tottenham after feeling tightness in his hamstring and, while the injury is not thought to be serious, Lampard is unlikely to take any risks with his skipper.

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

Lampard has confirmed that Ruben Loftus-Cheek is making "good progress" after a number of setbacks in his recovery from an Achilles problem, but there is still no return date in sight for the midfielder.

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

Marco van Ginkel is now back on the training field after a hellish recovery from knee ligament problems, although a return to first-team action is not on the cards anytime soon.

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Return date: December 29 (vs. Arsenal)

Mateo Kovacic picked up his fifth booking of the season against Spurs, ruling him out of the Boxing Day visit of Southampton.