Chelsea have provided an update on the availability of no.

1 goalkeeper Edouard Mendy for the Club World Cup games following his success with Senegal.

The Blues are currently in Abu Dhabi preparing to take part in the Club World Cup, a side’s reward for winning the Champions League the previous season. The west London club are yet to win the competition, falling 1-0 to Brazilian side Corinthians in the final after their 2012 Champions League success, and will be keen to put that right this time around.

And they could be boosted by the early return of their shot-stopper Edouard Mendy, who is due to arrive and join up with the squad on Tuesday afternoon after experiencing success of his own in the Africa Cup of Nations.

Edouard Mendy and Sadio Mane are on top of the world 🤩

(🎥IG: edou_mendy) pic.twitter.com/IYNq7LbMbk

— GOAL (@goal) February 7, 2022

The Senegal goalkeeper was the hero as he saved a penalty in their shootout win over Egypt, helping lift his side’s first AFCON trophy in the process after heartbreak in the final for his country at the last tournament.

Will Mendy play?

Now, with Thomas Tuchel still unavailable to travel after a positive COVID-19 result just ahead of the trip, duties have fallen to assistant Arno Michels.

And, speaking to the media ahead of their game against Al-Hilal on Wednesday, Michels revealed that Mendy could well play.

Asked about his goalkeeper, he revealed that ‘we see how tired he is… we have to check and talk to him’ before deciding if he can play.

Michels says Mendy is due to arrive in Abu Dhabi later today or tomorrow “and we see how tired he is… we have to check and talk to him” before deciding whether he plays.

— James Olley (@JamesOlley) February 8, 2022

Should he prove unavailable, then Kepa Arrizabalaga will have a chance to continue his fine form in his superior’s absence.

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