Chelsea Receives Major Boost Ahead of Conference League Showdown But Faces Fresh Concerns

Sports Mole rounds up all of the latest injury and suspension news ahead of Thursday's Conference League clash between Heidenheim and Chelsea. The Blues are looking to extend their winning streak in the competition, but they will face stiff competition from the German side.

Let's dive into the latest team news for both Heidenheim and Chelsea ahead of their crucial Conference League tie.

Heidenheim has been plagued by injuries this season, and their Conference League ambitions have not been spared. One of their key players, Jan-Niklas Beste, is ruled out of the Chelsea tie due to an illness. Beste has been a vital cog in Heidenheim's midfield, and his absence will be deeply felt.

Another player who will miss the Chelsea tie is Kevin Sessa. Sessa picked up a knee injury in Heidenheim's previous Conference League outing, and he is still recovering from the setback. His unavailability will force Heidenheim's manager to shuffle his pack and find a suitable replacement.

On a brighter note, Heidenheim has no suspension concerns ahead of the Chelsea tie. This means that the manager can pick from a fully healthy pool of players, excluding those injured. Heidenheim will look to exploit any weakness in the Chelsea lineup and cause an upset in the Conference League.

Chelsea, on the other hand, has received a significant boost ahead of the Heidenheim tie. One of their key players, Armando Broja, has returned to training after a lengthy injury layoff. Broja has been out of action since suffering a serious knee injury, but his return to training is a welcome boost for Graham Potter's side.

However, Chelsea is sweating over the fitness of Conor Gallagher. Gallagher picked up a minor injury in Chelsea's previous outing, and he is a doubt for the Heidenheim tie. Chelsea will be hoping that Gallagher can recover in time to feature in the Conference League clash.

As for suspensions, Chelsea has no concerns. The Blues can pick from a full pool of players, excluding those injured. This will give Graham Potter a wide range of options to choose from as he looks to extend Chelsea's winning streak in the Conference League.

Heidenheim Predicted XI: (3-4-3): Muller, Mainka, Husing, Busse, Schimmer, Gechter, Thomalla, Leipertz, Kleindienst, Dorsch, Bestella

Chelsea Predicted XI: (4-3-3): Kepa, Chilwell, Silva, Colwill, James, Kovacic, Loftus-Cheek, Pulisic, Sterling, Havertz, Azpilicueta