Chelsea worry defender Maxence Lacroix is about for a prolonged lay-off after struggling a severe hamstring harm.
A number of sources have instructed BBC Sport that the France worldwide, 26, might be out till January, which means he might miss as much as 10 matches.
The setback occurred on the finish of the primary half of Wednesday’s Carabao Cup loss to Liverpool on penalties, as Lacroix sprinted and tried to dam a shot.
Sources inside Chelsea, together with supervisor Xabi Alonso, have been guarded on the size of the absence.
When requested about Lacroix’s harm at his media convention earlier than Saturday’s Premier League go to of Manchester United, Alonso mentioned: “Max, he picked up an harm, and we count on that he is not going to be prepared earlier than the worldwide break. So he will likely be a couple of weeks out.”
The harm is a blow for Alonso, who has began his £52m summer season signing from Crystal Palace in all however certainly one of Chelsea‘s 11 matches throughout all competitions this season.
Solely attacker Morgan Rogers has performed greater than Lacroix for Chelsea this season.
The Blues have a six-man centre-back group that includes Levi Colwill, Wesley Fofana, Josh Acheampong, Jorrel Hato and Aaron Anselmino as alternate options, though the latter two are additionally presently injured, with others having additionally lined up at full-back.
Requested concerning the potential replacements, Alonso added: “With Max’s harm, we now have Wes, we now have Levi [Colwill], Josh [Acheampong], he might play in addition to centre-back.
“Jorrel when he’s again with the group [is an option]. Wes has performed [and] even when he missed the penalty [in the shootout], I feel that he had a great sport.
“He was constant, he was robust and I noticed many positives from his efficiency. We all know the extent that he has had and he will be vital.”
Alonso additionally revealed that goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez is having a particular masks fitted to play whereas recovering from a damaged jaw and midfielder Moises Caicedo averted harm regardless of issues after the midweek conflict with Liverpool.
Chelsea are fifth within the Premier League with 13 factors from eight matches, however have stored just one clear sheet in that interval.
