Chelsea is facing a significant setback as Ben Chilwell is sidelined for a minimum of eight weeks due to a hamstring injury sustained against Brighton last month. The England international’s recovery path appears lengthy after he damaged his hamstring during Chelsea’s Carabao Cup victory over Brighton. Mauricio Pochettino expressed concerns about the severity of the injury. Chilwell was omitted from Chelsea’s matchday squad for the Fulham game after being benched in their previous two league matches. According to The Telegraph, Chilwell is expected to be out of action for at least two months due to this latest setback.
The tight Christmas schedule might be too early for Chilwell’s return, contingent upon his rehabilitation progress. This setback adds to Pochettino’s challenges, as he is already dealing with multiple injury concerns at the start of his tenure at Stamford Bridge. Long-term absentees include Christopher Nkunku, Reece James, Romeo Lavia, and Wesley Fofana. Additionally, there have been minor problems for Moises Caicedo, Mykhaylo Mudryk, Benoit Badiashile, Noni Madueke, Trevoh Chalobah, and Carney Chukwuemeka. Chilwell’s absence also poses a problem for Gareth Southgate, who lacks an experienced left-back for the upcoming international breaks, given Luke Shaw’s absence from action since August due to a muscle injury.