Wesley Fofana’s recovery schedule after his injury has been disclosed, with Mauricio Pochettino outlining his strategy for facing Chelsea.

Fofana Aims for Summer Comeback against Chelsea as Pochettino Discusses Optimism

Wesley Fofana has been sidelined this entire season due to an anterior cruciate ligament injury sustained last summer. However, the Chelsea defender is edging closer to a return to action.

Mauricio Pochettino is optimistic about Wesley Fofana’s potential inclusion in Chelsea’s squad for their summer tour in the United States as the defender inches towards recovery from his injury.

Fofana, a French international, hasn’t had the chance to play under Pochettino in a competitive match yet, having suffered an ACL rupture last summer. Since joining Chelsea from Leicester City in 2022, Fofana has only appeared 20 times for the Blues across all competitions due to recurring injuries over the past few years.

Nonetheless, he’s now gearing up for his much-anticipated comeback. While he won’t be fit for the last two fixtures of the season against Brighton and Bournemouth, Pochettino is confident that Fofana will be back in training for the pre-season, which is just a couple of months away.

“We’re hopeful, yes,” Pochettino responded when asked about Fofana’s availability for Chelsea’s pre-season. “He’s progressing well and has a positive mindset. We had discussions yesterday, and we’re hopeful he’ll be able to join the team. However, he’s not yet back in group training.”

Pochettino has had several players who’ve been sidelined for significant periods, including Fofana, Christopher Nkunku, and Romeo Lavia, throughout the season.

Looking ahead to next season, Pochettino acknowledges the need for patience with these returning players. He stated, “Certainly, we need to exercise patience with the returning players. This applies to Romeo Lavia, Christopher Nkunku, Reece James, as we must ensure they’re not only fit for now but also manage their fitness throughout the entire season to avoid setbacks.

“Although there are inherent risks in football, these players possess the quality to take calculated risks. Fofana, for instance, has been out for a year. We’ll assess if he can join us for pre-season, handle the workload, and be ready for next season. It’s crucial to manage these situations effectively over the summer, pre-season, and during the transfer window to prevent a recurrence of this season’s challenges.”