Mauricio Pochettino handed fresh injury blow as Malo Gusto & Reece James both ruled out of Brighton clash

Malo Gusto looks set to miss Chelsea’s Premier League clash against Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday afternoon due to injury.

The 20-year-old was not included in the Chelsea squad for their 4-1 defeat to Newcastle United last weekend and has been absent from training pictures released by the club ahead of facing Brighton.

Gusto has been playing with strapping in recent weeks and pulled out of the France U21 in the recent international break to continue his return to full fitness.

Chelsea have confirmed the injury blow in their Friday injury update, writing that Gusto is ‘undergoing his rehabilitation programme’.

Pochettino is also without captain Reece James, who was shown a second yellow card against Newcastle and will serve his suspension against Brighton.

It leaves the Chelsea head coach without his two first-choice right-backs. Axel Disasi has previously played at right-back for the Blues, with Pochettino now having a decision on his hands. Marc Cucurella is also suspended due to an accumulation of yellow cards.

Pochettino is set to provide an update on Gusto during his pre-match press conference on Friday afternoon.