Cole Palmer should be fit to play the full match for Chelsea against Aston Villa(Image: Getty Images)

Nine players could miss Chelsea vs Aston Villa as Cole Palmer update issued

by · football.london

Chelsea are gearing up to face Aston Villa on Saturday afternoon, with a number of players set to miss the action on both sides

Enzo Maresca and Unai Emery will be forced to navigate a number of injuries as they head into Saturday's clash at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea play host to Aston Villa in the Premier League at 5.30pm, in a match which could end up deciding which club finishes above the other this season. As things stand, Chelsea sit fourth in the league table, seven points behind the Villans, who occupy third.

While both managers will have hoped to have a full-strength squad to pick and choose from, matters are far bleaker on each side. Blues star Cole Palmer should be available for the duration of the match, as Maresca confirmed earlier this week that his rehabilitation from groin and foot injuries has gone well.

However, a number of his team-mates will miss the fixture as they continue to recover. Here are all of the players who could miss Saturday's clash between Chelsea and Aston Villa...

Levi Colwill

Levi Colwill is expected to sit out the rest of the season as a result of an ACL injury sustained during Chelsea's pre-season preparations(Image: Chelsea FC via Getty Images)

Mykhailo Mudryk

Mykhailo Mudryk is provisionally suspended by the FA after an adverse finding in a routine urine test. He has not played for the club, nor his nation of Ukraine, since last November.(Image: PA)

Romeo Lavia

Romeo Lavia is currently side-lined with a muscular injury, and is not expected to return to playing until the new year.(Image: Getty Images)

Dario Essugo

Maresca explained earlier this month that Dario Essugo had suffered a setback with regard to his recovery from a thigh injury. He is expected to miss Saturday's clash with Villa.(Image: Chelsea FC via Getty Images)

Ross Barkley

Earlier this month, Unai Emery confirmed that Ross Barkley could miss up to 12 weeks of action as a result of a knee injury sustained against Wolves. The former Chelsea star is not expected to play until the new year.(Image: PA)

Evann Guessand

Evann Guessand is currently taking part in the Africa Cup Of Nations with Ivory Coast and will miss the game.(Image: Getty Images)

Pau Torres

Pau Torres is expected to return at the end of the month after missing matches against West Ham and Manchester United through injury. He may not feature against Chelsea.(Image: Getty Images)

Tyrone Mings

Tyrone Mings has been nursing a thigh injury as of recent and is unavailable for selection until January.(Image: PA)

Harvey Elliott

Harvey Elliott missed Villa's clash with United as a result of illness. He will be checked ahead of the Chelsea match.(Image: Getty Images)