Tuchel sets a possible date for Kovacic's Chelsea return

Ahead of this weekend’s London derby, Tuchel has suggested a return date for when Kovacic could come back.

Mateo Kovacic is out of Chelsea’s Premier League match against West Ham on Saturday, but he could return to face Fulham a week later on May 1.

The former Real Madrid midfielder has missed the last three games due to a hamstring problem.

But while Kovacic is unlikely to return in time to face Real Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday, Thomas Tuchel hopes to recall him for the upcoming west London derby.

🗣Thomas Tuchel sets ‘realistic’ return date for Mateo Kovacic! pic.twitter.com/3cb57VAiV1

— Talk Chelsea (@talkchelsea) April 23, 2021

“The team news is there is no news. Mateo is still out, everyone else is ok,” said the Chelsea manager in a pre-match conference as per Football London.

On when Kovacic could return, Tuchel said: “Me, personally, I think we can hope for Fulham. But don’t take that for granted.

“Maybe the physios and doctors will kill me for that. So maybe Fulham, which is between the Real Madrid games.

“Tomorrow is a game. Then we have two days to prepare for Real Madrid in the semi-final of the Champions League. Without training, that won’t happen. So Fulham is the target.”