Cesar Azpilicueta Injury: Updates on Chelsea Star's Status and Return

Chelsea will be without defender Cesar Azpilicueta for Saturday's trip to face Swansea City at the Liberty Stadium.

Jose Mourinho confirmed the reliable Spaniard is likely to return soon during his pre-match presser, noted by Chelsea's official Twitter feed:

The man Stamford Bridge fans affectionately call "Dave" suffered his problem during the recent victory over Newcastle, per Mark Worrall of ESPN FC.

Azpilicueta has become a mainstay of Mourinho's back four since joining in 2012. He is one of the club's most consistent performers at left-back and can also be deployed on the opposite side if needed.

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He has racked up 19 appearances across all competitions this season, per WhoScored.com, limiting summer signing Filipe Luis to the bench for much of the campaign. It is likely Luis who will deputise during the trip to face Garry Monk's tricky outfit, who have suffered defeat in just one of their last five Premier League fixtures.

Losing Azpilicueta's intelligence and position play is a set-back for the current division leaders, but Mourinho possesses one of world football's most well-rounded squads to overcome key absences throughout the year.