Chelsea handed boost as AC Milan suffer injury setbacks ahead of Champions League clash

Chelsea have been handed a boost, with AC Milan suffering several injury setbacks ahead of their Champions League clash against the Blues.

Chelsea have one point from two games in Group E, sitting rock bottom.

On the other hand, AC Milan are top of the group after a draw against FC Salzburg and beating Dinamo Zagreb.

The Blues have changed their manager and Graham Potter will lead his side when they face the Serie A side twice in October.

Potter was appointed Chelsea head coach earlier this month (Image: Alamy)

Chelsea have suffered with their own injury problems this season, most notably with the absence of N'Golo Kante and Mateo Kovacic in the early weeks.

However, they have now been handed a boost as AC Milan are also suffering from an injury crisis ahead of their match against the Blues.

During the international break, an update has been provided by Italian media regarding AC Milan's availability.

Gazzetta dello Sport have reported the extent of the Italians' injury woes, with up to four players facing a race against time to face Chelsea.

The situations regarding Ante Rebic, Divock Origi, Theo Hernandez and Sandro Tonali have all been revealed.

Tonali left Italy's camp during the latest international break as a precaution, and Milan are hoping to have him back before they face Empoli, days before travelling to London.

Hernandez, on the other hand, did not travel with France for their UEFA Nations League games.

Instead, he stayed in Milan to recover from a muscle strain.

It is 'impossible' that he returns to face Empoli, while the match against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge is 'very difficult' for him to return in.

Rebic is set to return to training for the Milan side, but has not played since August so could once again miss out, but he could make the squad for the game in London.

Olivier Giroud and Fikayo Tomori will face off against Chelsea for the first time since their departures. (Alamy)

Former Liverpool forward Origi will miss the first match, but could return when Chelsea travel to the San Siro.

Olivier Giroud and Fikayo Tomori, who are both on international duty, remain fit and are set for their return to Stamford Bridge next month.

Chelsea's injury situation remains unclear, with Kante potentially returning to training.

Kovacic has featured for Croatia during the national break and remains unharmed, but Potter will give an update on his squad before Chelsea face Crystal Palace on October 1.