Wesley Fofana is back: Chelsea defender set to make stunning return from injury against Southampton despite Enzo Maresca ruling Frenchman out until next season

The French defender has been sidelined since early December after sustaining a hamstring injury during a 3-0 victory over Aston Villa. Initial assessments suggested he would be absent for roughly five weeks, but concerns escalated when Maresca later hinted that the centre-back’s injury could keep him out until the next campaign.

According to RMC Sport journalist Fabrice Hawkins, Fofana is expected to be included in the matchday squad against the Saints. While it remains uncertain whether he will be fit enough to start, his return would be a significant boost for Chelsea as they navigate a congested fixture schedule.

Maresca’s initial prognosis led Chelsea to recall Trevoh Chalobah from his loan spell at Crystal Palace to provide defensive reinforcement. However, Chalobah has since picked up a minor injury, ruling him out of the upcoming clash with Southampton on Tuesday. With fellow centre-back Benoît Badiashile also sidelined, the Blues find themselves short of options at the back.

Fofana’s fitness woes have severely limited his playing time, with the defender featuring in just 27 Premier League matches over nearly three years. A ruptured anterior cruciate ligament ruled him out for nearly a year, and before this hamstring setback, he had already suffered multiple knee-related problems. His injury struggles date back to his time at Leicester City, where he fractured his fibula and was sidelined for most of the season.

With multiple key fixtures on the horizon, having Fofana available again - whether as a starter or an option off the bench - could prove invaluable. The Southampton fixture is the first of a crucial run of games, with the Blues set to host Leicester City on March 9. In between those domestic encounters, Chelsea will shift focus to European competition as they prepare to take on Copenhagen in the last 16 of the Europa Conference League.