Chelsea injury news: Mixed Cole Palmer, Joao Pedro, Estevao Willian update provided by Calum McFarlane ahead of Leeds United FA Cup semi-final

Interim Chelsea caput manager Calum McFarlane has suggested that Cole Palmer and Joao Pedro could beryllium disposable for Sunday's FA Cup semi-final against Leeds United.

However, the short-term replacement for Liam Rosenior has confirmed that Estevao Willian has been ruled retired for the remainder of the season.

With Rosenior having been sacked connected Wednesday evening, McFarlane starts his 2nd impermanent stint successful complaint with a mammoth Wembley showpiece against opponents that Chelsea are yet to bushed successful 2025-26.

The Blues are underdogs to suffice for Europe adjacent play and McFarlane is alert that helium needs each subordinate connected committee to present a affirmative outcome.

Speaking astatine a property league connected Friday, McFarlane hinted that Palmer and Pedro volition some diagnostic successful his squad.

McFarlane delivers Chelsea wounded update

Palmer missed Tuesday's 3-0 decision astatine Brighton & Hove Albion with a flimsy hamstring injury, portion Pedro has been absent for 2 games with a insignificant calf issue.

During that update, McFarlane acknowledged that reports which suggested that Estevao would beryllium sidelined for a important play with a hamstring wounded were correct.

He told reporters: "Estevao unluckily won't play for america this season. He is going to beryllium retired for a small spot of time. We're present to enactment him.

"Joao and Cole, they trained, they're successful a bully place. We don't cognize yet, we'll marque a telephone tomorrow."

When pushed connected whether Estevao could instrumentality to correspond Brazil astatine the World Cup, helium added: "I'm not definite connected that if I'm honest. He won't beryllium disposable for us.

"I'm definite he's precise hopeful helium tin marque the World Cup but I don't cognize connected that."

Would McFarlane hazard some Palmer, Pedro?

With Palmer and Pedro arguably Chelsea's 2 astir important players successful the last third, McFarlane volition privation some of them successful his archetypal XI.

At the aforesaid time, helium whitethorn privation to err connected the broadside of caution courtesy of the magnitude of games that inactive await Chelsea.

Earlier this week, Sports Mole suggested possible starting lineups for Chelsea based connected the archetypal XIs that McFarlane selected for games against Manchester City and Fulham successful January.