Chelsea receive huge fitness boosts ahead of Real Madrid clash
By Sean Walsh
Chelsea have confirmed that N'Golo Kante, Mason Mount, Thiago Silva and Cesar Azpilicueta are part of their travelling contingent for Wednesday's UEFA Champions League clash with Real Madrid.
The first leg of the Blues' quarter-final takes place at the Santiago Bernabeu, with Frank Lampard's men heading to the Spanish capital as underdogs by a considerable distance.
However, they have been handed some rather major boosts on the fitness front, with four key players returning to the fold.
Kante, Mount, Silva and Azpilicueta have all travelled to Madrid, with Lampard confirming they are fit to play.
Kante recently returned from a hamstring injury and has looked a lot like his peak self in his two most recent appearances. Lampard rested the Frenchman for Saturday's loss at Wolves.
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Meanwhile, Mount pulled out of the Wolves loss and was a serious doubt to face Real Madrid, but there is now a chance that he could feature. The midfielder scored on the Blues' trip to the Santiago Bernabeu last season, winning 3-2 after extra-time on the night but being eliminated at this same stage on aggregate.
Silva has not played since Chelsea were beaten 2-0 by Tottenham back in February, picking up a knee injury early on during their loss in north London.
Azpilicueta has been eased back into the mix after suffering a head injury and a concussion in a 1-0 defeat to Southampton prior to facing Spurs.
Chelsea travelling squad vs Real Madrid
Goalkeepers: Kepa Arrizabalaga, Edouard Mendy, Marcus Bettinelli
Defenders: Thiago Silva, Trevoh Chalobah, Ben Chilwell, Reece James, Kalidou Koulibaly, Cesar Azpilicueta, Marc Cucurella, Wesley Fofana
Midfielders: Enzo Fernandez, N'Golo Kante, Mateo Kovacic, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Mason Mount, Denis Zakaria, Conor Gallagher
Forwards: Christian Pulisic, Joao Felix, Mykhailo Mudryk, Raheem Sterling, Hakim Ziyech, Kai Havertz