Are Cole Palmer and Malo Gusto fit for Chelsea vs Aston Villa? Injury news latest and FPL update

Gameweek 34 was one of the highest scoring to date on Fantasy Football with two matches for Arsenal and several other sides. However, with just three more to go until the end of the season, things are really starting to ramp up now.

Injuries to some key players have complicated matters for budding managers and now there are some big calls to make. Following on from the absence of both Cole Palmer and Erling Haaland for Chelsea and Manchester City, it is all eyes on the injury latest.

Palmer was absent for the 5-0 humbling his team took from Arsenal on Tuesday night having played 90 minutes in the FA Cup semi-final just three days earlier against City. His teammate and popular FPL pick, Malo Guso, were both sidelined.

The pair are two of the most creative Chelsea players despite some up-and-down form for Mauricio Pochettino. With a double gameweek coming up for the Blues against Aston Villa (away on Saturday night) and Tottenham (at home on Thursday, May 2), their involvement could be paramount to late FPL improvement.

Pochettino will also hope that the duo are back in contention as soon as possible having seen his side capitulate at the Emirates Stadium without them. Chelsea are still within touching distance of the European places despite the defeat but have some tricky games left to come.

Here, football.london has the latest on the Chelsea FPL favourites ahead of gameweek 35 and their matches with Villa and Spurs.

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Cole Palmer and Malo Gusto Chelsea injury latest for FPL gameweek 35

Palmer didn't train last week ahead of Arsenal due to illness. "Today [training], no," Pochettino said on Monday. "We need to assess him tomorrow morning. But today, no, I don't believe he can be involved, but we need to assess him tomorrow and then we can decide.

"Even if he will be good tomorrow, maybe he is not in a condition to play. I hope he can recover from this situation as soon as possible and be involved again with the team."

He played no role in the defeat in north London but has since returned to training with his teammates at Cobham. Palmer has been pictured taking part in sessions at the Surrey-based complex.

The good news is that he is set to feature once again. "Yes Cole was training well in the last few days and we assume that he is going to be ready for tomorrow and part of the squad," Pochettino explained on Friday. "Today [he trained], yes.

Palmer has scored the second-most points of anyone on FPL this year with 208 - leading the pack for midfielders ahead of Bukayo Saka and Phil Foden - thanks to his 20 goals and 10 assists so far.

As for Gusto, he has been put through his paces in recent weeks due to Reece James' extended period out of the side through recovery from surgery. The 20-year-old had started eight out of nine league games prior to Tuesday but was hauled off at Wembley with a knee problem.

It's not the first time that he has picked up issues either. The Frenchman missed six games in October and December through muscular injuries. "Malo suffered a minor problem in his knee ligaments," explained Pochettino earlier this week. "I am not a doctor, but you asked me and I respect trying to translate what is going on. I hope it is not a big issue."

Gusto hasn't been seen in training yet, unlike Palmer. He remains a big doubt for the trip to Villa having been added to the club's injury list under the banner of 'undergoing rehabilitation programme.'