Chelsea will anxiously await assessment on Ben Chilwell after the England defender suffered another suspected hamstring injury against Brighton.
Chilwell came back into Mauricio Pochettino’s starting XI as one of five changes for Wednesday night’s Carabao Cup third-round tie at Stamford Bridge, taking back the captain’s armband from the rested Conor Gallagher with regular skipper Reece James still sidelined with his own hamstring problem.
The 26-year-old was making his first start under new boss Pochettino in his natural position and delivered a solid if unremarkable display that was sadly curtailed deep into second-half stoppage time.
Chilwell stayed down after tussling with former Blues team-mate Billy Gilmour at the start of a Brighton attack that led to a great chance for a last-gasp equaliser through Joao Pedro, who lashed a volley over the crossbar.
He received treatment but could not continue, limping off around the pitch with the help of Chelsea’s medical’s staff as the hosts finished the tie with 10 men having already made all of their alotted substitutions by that stage.
Quizzed on the nature of the injury after the game, Pochettino said: “We need to assess tomorrow but I think it was his hamstring.”
Chilwell will hope this latest setback is not too serious after he missed several months of action last season with serious hamstring issues that also forced him to miss the World Cup in Qatar.
Chelsea’s injury list currently remains extensive, with the likes of James, Romeo Lavia, Christopher Nkunku, Carney Chukwuemeka, Trevoh Chalobah, Benoit Badiashile, Wesley Fofana and Marcus Bettinelli all still in the treatment room.
Malo Gusto and cup match-winner Nicolas Jackson are both suspended for the Premier League west London derby against Fulham at Craven Cottage on Monday night, meanwhile.
Fans wondered if Noni Madueke had also been re-added to the list of the walking wounded after missing out completely on selection against Brighton, though Pochettino has since confirmed that he is not injured.
“It’s about choice,” the Argentine said in a cryptic update on the England Under-21 winger.
