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, who are optimistic of having Mykhailo Mudryk and Moises Caicedo fit for Saturday’s clash against Burnley, 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.
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.