Liam Rosenior provides double injury update as Chelsea star ruled out for Hull City clash

Liam Rosenior has faced the media at Cobham (Image: Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)

Liam Rosenior has provided an update on Marc Cucurella and Reece James ahead of Chelsea's clash against Hull City in the FA Cup fourth round. The Blues boss could be without a couple of big names when he returns to the MKM Stadium on Friday night.

Cucurella was forced to come off midway through Chelsea's dramatic draw to Leeds United due to a hamstring problem. Meanwhile, James has been nursing an illness, which he picked up shortly after recovering from a minor knock.

Speaking to reporters at Cobham on Wednesday afternoon, Rosenior said: "Marc, it's too early to know. He's definitely out vs Hull. Reece trained modified, he's still under the weather. We'll make a decision on Reece tomorrow."

On whether he'll make wholesale changes to the starting lineup that faced Daniel Farke's side at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday night, Rosenior said: "No, this is a tough game.

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"I don't see it any different to a Premier League game or a Champions League game. They're in good form and used to winning games at the moment."

Hull City appointed Rosenior as head coach in November 2022, giving the Englishman his first permanent job in senior management. He spent enjoyed 18 months or so at the MKM Stadium before leaving in the summer of 2024 to take the reins at Strasbourg.

Liam Rosenior during his spell as Hull City manager (Image: Danny Lawson/PA Wire)

Rosenior developed many of his core ideas at Hull City before putting them into practice at the highest level against the likes of Paris Saint-Germain. On returning to his former club, where he also had a stint as a player, the Chelsea boss said: "Firstly, Hull City is very special to me.

"My grandma was a season ticket holder. The club means a lot to me for many different reasons," added Rosenior. "Without Hull, without the experience as a player and manager, I wouldn't be sat here.

"I had some amazing times there. It's great to see them doing so well in the league. It's going to be an emotional one for me to go back."

Seamus Coleman and Liam Rosenior battle for the ball.

"I felt that his style was not suited to the Championship and I wanted something different in the end. It was a really hard decision to part ways because of the relationship we had together, but I felt it was the right one to make.

"I said at the time I felt Liam would go on and be very successful, and that's proved to be the case with the job he did at Strasbourg and now being given the chance at Chelsea, which makes me very proud."

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