By Milcah Tanimu

Chelsea fans have reason to be optimistic as Lesley Ugochukwu, the promising nephew of former Super Eagles defender Onyekachi Apam, has commenced partial training with the team ahead of their Premier League showdown against Arsenal.

In an injury update released on their official website, Chelsea confirmed Ugochukwu’s return to partial team training, marking a positive step in his recovery journey. However, it’s unlikely that the France U21 international of Nigerian descent will feature in the matchday squad for the Arsenal fixture, given his limited training with the squad so far.

Ugochukwu’s last appearance for Chelsea dates back to December 24, 2023, in a game against Wolverhampton Wanderers, where he was forced off the field due to a hamstring injury relapse. Since then, he has been sidelined for twenty-two consecutive games across all competitions, including thirteen Premier League fixtures.

While Chelsea have not disclosed the specifics of Ugochukwu’s training regimen or provided an exact timeline for his full return, his progress is undoubtedly a positive development for the team. Prior to his injury setback, Ugochukwu had been a regular feature in manager Mauricio Pochettino’s matchday squads, earning sixteen consecutive call-ups.

Having showcased his talent as a central midfielder, the former Rennes wonderkid accumulated 537 minutes of game time across thirteen appearances before his injury layoff. His return to fitness could offer a valuable midfield option for Chelsea in the latter stages of the season.

Meanwhile, Chelsea continues to monitor the rehabilitation of Levi Colwill, Wesley Fofana, Reece James, and Romeo Lavia, all of whom remain unavailable for selection in the upcoming clash against Arsenal.