Chelsea team news: Injury, suspension list vs. Middlesbrough

Chelsea will endeavour to put one foot in the final of the EFL Cup when they tackle Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium in the first leg of their semi-final on Tuesday night.

Mauricio Pochettino's men saw off AFC Wimbledon, Brighton & Hove Albion and Blackburn Rovers to set up a quarter-final showdown with Newcastle United, whom they overcame on penalties to reach the final four.

The Blues have already eliminated one Championship foe from knockout competition this month, sinking Preston North End 4-0 in the third round of the FA Cup on Saturday, where Armando Broja, Thiago Silva, Raheem Sterling and Enzo Fernandez made the net bulge.

Here, Sports Mole rounds up Chelsea's latest injury and suspension news ahead of their clash with Boro, whose FA Cup run came to an end with a narrow 1-0 loss to Aston Villa over the weekend.

Christopher Nkunku

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

Christopher Nkunku was a notable absentee from Chelsea's squad for the visit of Preston on Saturday, and Pochettino revealed after the game that the Frenchman - whose Blues baptism was delayed by a severe knee injury - had experienced pain in his hip, and he will not be fit to play on Tuesday.

Ben Chilwell

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

Ben Chilwell is now taking part in full training as he enters the final stages of his rehabilitation from a hamstring injury, but Tuesday's game will still come too soon.

Wesley Fofana

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

Wesley Fofana will not be seen in the blue strip anytime soon, as he faces another few months of recovery from his ACL injury and subsequent surgery.

Trevoh Chalobah

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

Trevoh Chalobah is yet to resume training from the thigh problem which has prevented him from playing one game this season, and the defender will remain unavailable for Tuesday's first leg.

Carney Chukwuemeka

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

As is the case with Chilwell, Carney Chukwuemeka - who has been out since October with a knee problem - is now training fully with the group, but he is not quite ready to return to first-team action.

Lesley Ugochukwu

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

Lesley Ugochukwu sustained a hamstring issue in Chelsea's loss to Wolverhampton Wanderers on Christmas Eve, and the former Rennes starlet is expected to remain out of contention for the next few weeks.

Reece James

Status: Out Type of injury: Hamstring Possible return date: March 30 (vs. Burnley)

Reece James - a frequent occupant of a bed in the treatment room - is expected to remain out until the end of March as he recuperates from a hamstring operation, which could jeopardise his chances of representing England at Euro 2024.

Robert Sanchez

Status: Out Type of injury: Knee Possible return date: January 31 (vs. Liverpool)

Robert Sanchez is still working his way back from the knee concern he sustained against Everton in December, but there is hope that he could be back in the fold before the month is up.

Marc Cucurella

Status: Out Type of injury: Ankle Possible return date: March 2 (vs. Brentford)

Marc Cucurella was another casualty of that defeat to Everton last month, and the Spanish left-back faces several more weeks on the sidelines with his severe ankle issue.

Romeo Lavia

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

Having been plagued by an ankle injury at the start of the season, Romeo Lavia earned his belated Chelsea debut in December against Crystal Palace, but he reported a thigh complaint after the game and remains out of contention for now.

Nicolas Jackson

Status: Out Reason of absence: International duty Possible return date: Unknown

Nicolas Jackson was selected to represent Senegal at the Africa Cup of Nations, and the striker will not be at Pochettino's disposal while his country are battling for continental glory.

Benoit Badiashile

Status: Out Reason of absence: Unknown Possible return date: Unknown

Benoit Badiashile was unavailable for the showdown with Preston due to an unspecified concern, and despite joining in with group practice, he remains on the sidelines for now.

CHELSEA'S SUSPENSION LIST

Chelsea have no players suspended for this match, but Andrey Santos is cup-tied, having represented Nottingham Forest in their second-round loss to Burnley before being recalled to Stamford Bridge.