Chelsea's injury list is still seven names long but remains the shortest it has been since the start of the season. On almost a weekly basis the Blues have suffered more and more problems, losing stars until the end of the year and beyond as well as picking up niggles throughout.

There are still four of those that are yet to make a single appearance for Mauricio Pochettino in a competitive match with Christopher Nkunku, Wesley Fofana, Romeo Lavia and Trevoh Chalobah all sidelined. Carney Chukwuemeka has only played two games and Armando Broja has been available for less than two weeks in total. Even before the most recent international break, just as things had calmed down, Levi Colwill found himself struggling with a shoulder knock that ruled him out of the 4-4 draw with Manchester City.

This is also now a common theme throughout the league. Manchester United have been ravaged by fitness troubles and missing their first choice backline, Arsenal are without a group of their own best players and Tottenham have been hit bit an immediate plague depleating Ange Postecoglou's options.

It is, for once this campaign, now the first time that Chelsea don't have the worst set of injuries though. Ahead of the club's next Premier League fixture, a trip to St James' Park to face Eddie Howe's Newcastle, the setbacks are mounting.

The Magpies are currently staring at the very real possibility of being without 12 players for the game on November 12 and matters just keep getting worse. Even against Bournemouth there were consistent worries and blows with a very visable fatigue setting in toward the end of a 2-0 defeat.

"We have a whole host of players and we need them back as soon as we can," Howe said of the situation as a whole. "We have a busy December as well so it's not a good mix but something we have to get used to.

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"The break has come at a good time for us but I don't necessarily think it will bring a flood of players back. We have long-term injured players. Hopefully, we can get one or two back, while Bruno [Guimaraes] was suspended at a bad time. We didn't have the options on the bench to change things and Miggy's [Almiron] injury made things even harder."

Almiron is the most recent of those and was taken off during the game on the south coast. "It's a hamstring injury," a hapless Howe said afterwards. "I hope it's not serious. Of course, we all hope that but we don't know at this moment in time quite how bad it is."

That is far from the only attacking worry with Callum Wilson, Jacob Murphy, Elliot Anderson, Harvery Barnes and Alexander Isak all struggling. Wilson was initially called up for the England squad set to play the final two Euro 2024 qualifiers over the next ten days but withdrew from the camp.

"I don't really know [who will be available]," Southgate had said on Thursday when the squad was announced. "You'd be amazed at how complicated it is picking a squad because all clubs are of course sensitive to information and you're trying to piece everything together. So I couldn't be certain that everybody that is in that squad will be there on Sunday night [when the squad reports for duty], varying levels of doubt.

"With that Callum is probably the biggest level of doubt, Callum Wilson, but equally I'm pretty confident that the others can get through and they're all keen to be in the squad so that's a really good sign." Wilson then pulled out just says later, writing on social media: "Unfortunately a recent setback has meant I had to withdraw from the squad that I'd worked so hard to be a part of.

"Strong walls shake but never collapse, so for sure I'll be back soon. Good luck to the lads in their upcoming fixtures." The Telegraph now report that it could be more than six weeks until he returns.

As for Muprhy, he injured his shoulder against Wolves in a 2-2 draw in late October but returned against Arsenal. He didn't last 20 minutes of that game before keeling over in pain once more though, damaging his arm again. Howe said: "With Jacob, we always knew there was a chance that he could do his shoulder again. We will lose him now to an operation. I'm not completely sure how long he will be out for, but it'll probably be around three months."

Anderson has played a bit-part role this term as he looks to make a breakthrough into the side, starting four games but picking up a knock that will see him be unavailable for nearly two months. "Elliot looks like he's going to be out for around eight weeks with a back problem which is a pretty bizarre injury," Howe said last month.

To make matters worse and there is no certainty that goalscoring and creative influence Isak will be back. The 24-year-old hasn't played in the last three weeks with a groin injury but has still scored six times in the league and will have a fortnight to work on a return.

Howe is hopeful of seeing him come back for Chelsea. "Alex is doing well and is working on his fitness levels," he said. "We are building up his load, and the plan is for him to return after the international break."

Barnes is the last player on the attacking front after having his promising start to life in the north east cut abrupt. "He's still on schedule," Howe last said. "He's just started running, he had to let the bone heel in his toe. Fingers crossed, he's on the right path.

"He will probably be one who won't be too far away after the international break. He certainly won't be ready when we return but hopefully not too far away."

That leaves Newcastle's options massively short and it was down to Anthony Gordon, Joelinton and Matt Ritchie to lead the line against the Cherries with little promise that there will be much more to work with when Pochettino and Chelsea go to town.

In defence and the issues aren't much better. Lewis Hall will be unavailable to play due to being on loan from the Blues this season. The teenager is expected to join permanently when this deal ends, banking Chelsea around £30million.

Tino Livramento could play against his former side for the fourth time since leaving Cobham in 2021 to join Southampton but will be without three of the ideal backline alongside him. Sven Botman has been one of the biggest misses though having not featured since September 24.

"No massive news on Sven; he is progressing well; he has been away in the Netherlands getting specialist treatment," Howe explained last week. "I think he's back here today, so I will chat with him and see how he is getting on." It has since been reported, though, that the 23-year-old is set for a long lay-off and could need surgery on his knee. It could rule him out until February if this is the case and even if he does go without he is still unavailable to play against Chelsea.

Dan Burn will be out until the end of the year at least as well. "Unfortunately, Dan will be out for some time," Howe said at the start of the month. It could be a couple of months; that is sort of a speculative answer. I think he has got a problem with the base of his spine. It is a big blow for us."

Fellow left-footer Matt Targett is another that won't be seen until 2024. "It doesn't look good," Howe said at the end of October. "He is having his scan today, so we will know more. When you have a hamstring injury, you fear the worst. It is a real blow to lose him - he is a top player."

Targett has been a rotation option for the Geordies but at this stage of the season with Eurpean action and an already stretched group it is a matter of every little helps. This has been compounded by Fabian Schar being the latest in a long line of issues. He played through injury at the Vitality Stadium last Saturday despite needing treatment at half-time.

Schar is now set to watch Switzerland's clash with Israel on Wednesday from the sidelines after meeting up with his international teammates. He isn't necessarily a first choice for his country anyway but will play no part in the game regardless, needing individual training.

Italian midfielder Sandro Tonali is suspensed for the game after his ten-month ban for breaching betting rules, if things weren't already bad enough. Just like Chelsea could three weeks ago, it leaves Newcastle with an entire XI out injured currently, though there is no goalkeeper in that list unlike Pochettino's.