Chelsea travel to the London Stadium aiming to get their season back on track against a West Ham side battling against relegation.
But while Potter has been aided by his expensive January signings like Enzo Fernandez and Mykhailo Mudryk, the manager is still dealing with a rather extensive injury list.
No less than eight players are currently sidelined, including long-term absentees like N’Golo Kante, Edouard Mendy and Christian Pulisic.
But ahead of the Irons clash, the Blues have been handed a boost in regards to Wesley Fofana and Denis Zakaria who are ahead of schedule in their recovery from knee and thigh injuries respectively.
‘Players are getting closer and closer. Wesley and Denis Zakaria have been training with the team,’ Potter said in his pre-match press conference on Friday.
However, he had less positive news about Raheem Sterling who was supposed to be all fit and ready to go after coming off the bench for 30 minutes against Fulham last week.
‘We’ve had a little setback with Raheem [Sterling] he had a little kick in training on the side of his knee, so we’re assessing him and he is doubtful for tomorrow.’
Potter also added that the game has come ‘too soon’ for Mateo Kovacic but the midfielder is back in training after suffering a calf issue.
Chelsea are favourites to beat an out of sorts West Ham but given their own patchy form it is hardly a forgone conclusion, especially since the Blues haven’t won on the road since October.
‘It’s not a statistic we like, that is for sure. Going away from home in the Premier League is not straightforward and the problems we’ve been having in terms of injuries haven’t made it easy,’ Potter said.
‘But it’s something we’re trying to address. We have to start with West Ham; I’ve been there with Brighton and had a decent record.
‘But it’s a different context, a London derby with no love lost between the two teams. It will be a good atmosphere to test ourselves in and to try to get the three points.’
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