Chelsea injury crisis deepens with Chilwell blow leaving Blues without 11 stars

28 September 2023 , 17:07

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Ben Chilwell sustained a hamstring issue in Chelsea's win over Brighton (Image: Getty Images)

Ben Chilwell will undergo a scan on a hamstring injury he picked up during Chelsea's 1-0 win over Brighton.

Mauricio Pochettino's side recorded their first victory in four matches thanks to Nicolas Jackson's second-half strike. It was a professional performance from the Blues, who progress into the Carabao Cup fourth round and will now face Championship side Blackburn for a place in the quarter-final.

But Pochettino will be concerned about the fitness of Chilwell after the left-back limped off in the 97th minute at Stamford Bridge. Speaking in his post-match press conference, the Chelsea boss said: "Yes, we need to assess tomorrow but I think it is [his] hamstring."

Now, according to The Times, Chilwell will be scanned on Thursday to determine the damage of the injury, having missed several months last season with two separate hamstring issues. The ex-Leicester man was unavailable for 20 matches in 2022/23, including the final five of Frank Lampard's second spell in charge.

Chilwell has had rotten luck with injuries since his £50million move to the Blues three years ago. After helping Chelsea win the Champions League in his first season, Chilwell ruptured his Anterior Cruciate Ligament in November 2021, which ruled him out for the majority of that campaign.

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In total, Chilwell has made 92 appearances for Chelsea but Pochettino will be hoping the England defender has not sustained a long-term issue, considering the Blues' lengthy injury list. The Argentina could be without 11 first-team stars for their trip to Fulham due to injury and ill-discipline.

Jackson, who scored his second Chelsea goal against Brighton, will be unavailable after picking up his fifth Premier League yellow card of the season in their 1-0 defeat at home to Aston Villa. Pochettino could call upon Armando Broja, although the striker has only just returned from 10 months out after suffering an ACL injury.

Nicolas Jackson will miss Chelsea's trip to Fulham (Getty Images)

Malo Gusto will serve the second of his three-match suspension for his red card against Villa, while eight players sat out of the win over Brighton through respective injuries. Benoit Badiashile and Carney Chukwuemeka have returned to partial training but are unlikely to be fully fit to face Fulham.

Wesley Fofana and Christopher Nkunku have not made a competitive appearance this season after undergoing surgery in pre-season, while Chelsea are hopeful Reece James can return soon after sustaining a hamstring issue during the Blues' 1-1 draw against Liverpool on the opening weekend.

Romeo Lavia is yet to make an appearance since his big-money switch from Southampton. The Belgium international picked up an ankle injury in training and his possible return date is unknown. Trevor Chalobah and Marcus Bettinelli are the two other Chelsea stars currently on the treatment table.

Kieran King