Report: ‘Very important’ Chelsea player back in training after illness, he’s lost weight as a result

Reports have claimed that one key Chelsea player has returned to first team training ahead of the FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City.

According to the Mail Online, the Blues have been able to welcome him back after a recent bout of illness that saw him lose weight.

Mauricio Pochettino likely already has an idea in his mind over who he is wanting to start in the huge match at Wembley on Saturday.

Mauricio Pochettino looking to get Chelsea over Wembley curse

It is a big chance to put to bed their Wembley hoodoo, with their misery being added to earlier this season by losing in the League Cup final.

They missed a heap of big chances that day, which has actually been the story of their season as a whole.

Photo by Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images

In attack, Raheem Sterling has come in for a decent amount of criticism this season, with his missed chances frustrating large portions of the fanbase.

He has seen his place in the starting side disappear in recent weeks, and he was not named in the squad at all for Monday’s dominant win over Everton.

Pochettino made it clear he hadn’t been training recently off the back of his illness, with it now being shared the extent of the issues he has dealt with.

Raheem Sterling back in training

It was stated that he has lost weight off the back of food poisoning and dehydration, however he has now returned to training ahead of the FA Cup match on Saturday.

It remains to be seen if the manager makes any changes to the side who performed so well against Everton on Monday, with Noni Madueke and Mykhailo Mudryk playing the wide roles to support Cole Palmer.

The boss has made it clear in the past just how much he rates the England international, describing him as ‘very important’.

Sterling has made quite the impression against his former side already this season, scoring in both Premier League draws against them so far in this campaign.