Lionesses star Lucy Bronze to miss Chelsea's League Cup semi-final as Blues boss Sonia Bompastor also provides update on USWNT forward Mia Fishel's recovery from ACL injury

Bronze missed Sunday's 1-0 win over Aston Villa in the Women's Super League due to the calf issue, which Chelsea boss Sonia Bompastor described as "small". However, it will rule her out for at least another game, with Bompastor confirming as much in her press conference on Tuesday.

Chelsea will also be without France international Sandy Baltimore again due to injury, after she joined Bronze on the sidelines for the clash with Villa. Goalkeeper Zecira Musovic was the Blues' other new absentee at the weekend and it has since been announced that she is pregnant with her first child. The club signed Femke Liefting, a promising Netherlands youth international, on deadline day to add depth to that position.

Speaking on Tuesday, Bompastor told reporters: "There were no new injuries from the game on Sunday. Sandy Baltimore and Lucy Bronze won't be available for the game tomorrow. We'll see if they can be available for the game this weekend, but they are not in the squad for tomorrow."

Bompastor also provided an update on the recovery of Mia Fishel, the United States international forward who suffered a devastating ACL injury in February 2024. "Mia is doing well," she said. "She's not practicing fully with us yet but she's been with us [in] parts of training sessions. She's also progressing with our under-18 team. I think she's in a really good place, mentally and physically. It's really positive news from her, even if it's difficult for me to give you a really precise date for her return."

After taking on West Ham on Wednesday, Chelsea will face fellow WSL side Everton in the FA Cup fifth round on Sunday, a game Bronze and Baltimore will be hoping to be back for. The Blues will also find out the identity of their Champions League quarter-final opponent this week, with the draw to take place on Friday.