Chelsea vs Leeds United: Team News with 5 Doubts and 4 Outs as Liam Rosenior Provides Reece James Update
By Toby Bryant, Senior Sports Journalist. Published 9th February 2026, 06:30 GMT.
Reece James missed out against Wolves. Liam Rosenior has offered an update on the defender's fitness after his absence in the recent match.
Chelsea Manager Aims for Fifth Consecutive Win
Chelsea manager Liam Rosenior is targeting a fifth straight Premier League victory since taking charge as Leeds United visit Stamford Bridge on Tuesday night. The race for European qualification intensifies, with Manchester United gaining momentum under Michael Carrick, while Brentford and Everton have narrowed the gap to the top six with weekend wins.
Daniel Farke's Leeds side arrive in London encouraged by their own 3-1 triumph over Nottingham Forest on Friday, as they seek to climb the table and avoid relegation battles later in the season.
Chelsea Team News: Rosenior's Update on Key Players
Liam Rosenior revealed that Reece James was "so close" to featuring against Wolves on Saturday. The 26-year-old versatile defender was absent from the Carabao Cup semi-final second leg defeat to Arsenal, having played only nine minutes in the prior match against West Ham.
James did not make the squad at Molineux, but Rosenior downplayed the issue post-match, expressing hope for his availability against Leeds. He stated: "Reece is so close and should be fit for Tuesday. It's a pain management issue, and he was out running yesterday. Hopefully, he comes back fully fit and fully rested for Tuesday."
Other fitness concerns include:
- Pedro Neto: Nursed a knock before the Wolves game but started and completed the full 90 minutes.
- Jamie Gittens: Absent again with a suspected hamstring injury after limping off against West Ham; Rosenior noted it might take time to heal.
- Filip Jorgensen: Was touch-and-go for Wolves and could return to the bench against Leeds.
- Tosin Adarabioyo: Teased for a comeback after training but missed the Wolves squad.
- Andrey Santos: Picked up an ankle knock late against Wolves; severity unknown.
Longer-term absentees remain Dario Essugo and Levi Colwill, with Romeo Lavia expected back later but not for the Leeds match.
Doubts: Reece James, Andrey Santos, Jamie Gittens, Filip Jorgensen, Tosin Adarabioyo.
Outs: Dario Essugo, Levi Colwill, Romeo Lavia.
Leeds United Team News: Boost and Concern
Leeds United received a boost with four first-team players returning for their win over Nottingham Forest: James Justin and Dan James saw minutes, while Jaka Bijol and Lukas Nmecha were on the bench.
The primary concern is midfielder Anton Stach, who suffered a hip problem in late January against Arsenal. Daniel Farke commented: "Anton Stach is struggling with some hip problems and is likely to miss the Chelsea game. He's probably out for 10 to 14 days at least."
Out: Anton Stach.
Looking Ahead: Chelsea's Fixture Schedule
In related news, Chelsea's upcoming Premier League fixtures compared to Liverpool and Manchester United are under scrutiny as the Champions League race heats up, adding pressure to this midweek clash.
