Wrexham vs Chelsea FA Cup Clash: Seven Key Players Ruled Out with Injuries

By Jamie Kemble, Football Reporter. Published March 6, 2026, 06:30 GMT.

Chelsea return to action this Saturday as they take on Championship side Wrexham in a highly anticipated FA Cup encounter. The Blues are riding high after a decisive victory over Aston Villa earlier this week, which has reignited their pursuit of a top-four finish in the Premier League.

Now, their focus shifts to the FA Cup, where they will face a resilient Wrexham team currently positioned in a playoff spot within the Championship. Wrexham secured their place with a recent win against Charlton Athletic, setting the stage for a compelling cup showdown.

Injury Updates for Both Teams

Both Chelsea and Wrexham are grappling with significant injury concerns ahead of the match. Here is a detailed breakdown of the players who have been ruled out:

Ben Sheaf (Wrexham) - Out: Sheaf is sidelined with a muscular injury and is not expected to return for at least another week. Manager Phil Parkinson commented, "We know Sheafy is going to be out, he's no different, but obviously we need those two players back."
Matty James (Wrexham) - Out: James has suffered a setback with a toe injury, requiring him to wear a protective boot for an additional week to ten days. Parkinson explained, "Matty had a bit of a setback with his toe so he's still got a boot on for another week, maybe 10 days. The fracture hadn't healed as quickly as we'd hoped."
Liberato Cacace (Wrexham) - Out: Cacace continues his recovery but will not be available for this match. Parkinson noted, "Libby's still making progress," indicating a gradual return to fitness.
Jamie Bynoe-Gittens (Chelsea) - Out: The winger is undergoing long-term rehabilitation and is expected to be out for at least a couple more weeks. Manager Rosenior stated, "Levi is doing really well with his long-term rehab..."
Estevao Willian (Chelsea) - Out: Willian has resumed running on the pitch, marking positive progress in his recovery. Rosenior shared, "Estevao is back on the pitch running, which is great, and he’s doing really well." He is likely to return next weekend.
Dario Essugo (Chelsea) - Out: Essugo has returned to training, with hopes for a full recovery before the season concludes. Rosenior added, "Dario is back on the training pitch as well. Hopefully, we can get all these players fit and on the pitch before the end of the season."
Levi Colwill (Chelsea) - Out: Colwill is also engaged in long-term rehabilitation, with optimism for a return before the season ends. Rosenior updated, "Levi is doing really well with his long-term rehab..."

Suspension Note

Mykhailo Mudryk (Chelsea) - Out (Suspended): Mudryk is currently suspended due to anti-doping rule violations. A club statement from the summer clarified, "We can confirm that Mykhailo Mudryk has been charged with Anti-Doping Rule Violations alleging the presence and/or use of a prohibited substance, in terms of Regulations 3 and 4 of The FA's Anti-Doping Regulations. As this is an ongoing case, we are not in a position to comment further at this time." It is important to note that Mudryk is not included in the total injury count due to the nature of his absence.

As both teams prepare for this FA Cup fixture, the absence of these seven players could significantly influence the tactical approaches and outcomes on the field. Fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see how each squad adapts to these challenges.