Chelsea have been dealt another major injury blow with Ben Chilwell set to miss around eight weeks due to a hamstring injury.
Chilwell was forced off late on in Chelsea’s Carabao Cup win against Brighton last week.
Head coach Mauricio Pochettino’s concern was obvious as he confirmed ‘it is bad news from what the doctor told me.’
Chelsea were awaiting the results of further assessments and are now expecting Chilwell to be sidelined for around two months.
Whether he is able to reduce that time or it end up taking longer for him to return will be determined by how he responds in the early stages of the rehabilitation process.
Ben Chilwell could miss over two months of action after suffering a hamstring injury
Chilwell’s latest hamstring injury comes as a major blow for both his club and country
The news will come as a significant blow to Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino
An eight-week lay-off would see Chilwell return in December. Chelsea play seven times before the final month of the year, a period that includes a tough run of Premier League fixtures and Carabao Cup fourth round tie against Blackburn.
He will also miss the next two international breaks in a major blow to England manager Gareth Southgate. He was already without another preferred choice, Manchester United’s Luke Shaw. Chilwell was the only natural left back named in his last squad.
Southgate has called up Crystal Palace’s Tyrick Mitchell in the past but overlooked Brentford’s Rico Henry who is now expected to miss the remainder of the season due to an ACL injury.
Newcastle’s Kieran Trippier could be deployed in left-back, a role the right-back has performed previously for England.
An additional factor in Chelsea’s handling of Chilwell’s injury is likely to be his history of hamstring injuries.
He missed two spells due to the same problem last season. The biggest resulted in a three-month lay-off and Chelsea’s vice-captain missing the World Cup.
The setback suffered against Brighton is to the same leg.
Chelsea have been dogged by injury problems this season under Mauricio Pochettino in a continuation of their issues last season.
Manchester United’s Luke Shaw is also sidelined at present in a blow for England’s options
They currently have 10 players either confirmed to be out or concerns ahead of Saturday’s trip to Burnley after Mykhailo Mudryk and Moises Caicedo picked up knocks in Monday’s win at Fulham.
Caicedo is expected to recover from bruising he suffered late on at Craven Cottage in time for Chelsea’s trip to Turf Moor.
Mudryk came off at half-time at Fulham due to a thigh problem and is hopeful that he will at least recover in time to go on international duty with Ukraine.
‘I hope not,’ he said when asked if his injury will rule him out.
‘Because today is much better. The doctors’ forecasts are also positive.’
