Graham Potter has confirmed Ben Chilwell’s World Cup dream is in doubt after England’s first-choice left-back pulled up with a hamstring injury.
The 25-year-old had to be helped from the pitch by two members of the coaching staff after his side had seen off Zagreb.
Asked whether Qatar is now a concern, Potter said: “I think you’d have to say so, yes.
“I don’t want to add any more than that but when a player pulls up like he did after he felt it, it’s never positive.
“I spoke to him briefly. He just felt something as he was setting off. He is disappointed and upset.”
Gareth Southgate picks his 26-man squad a week today (THU) and England play their first game against Iran in 18 days. Potter revealed luckless Chilwell - who missed six months of last season with a knee injury - will now have scans to determine the extent of his latest setback.
“It’s a blow for us on an otherwise positive evening,” the Chelsea boss added. “To see him pull up like that, it’s not a great sight.
“So fingers crossed when we get it scanned it isn’t too bad. It can be not as severe but we have to cross our fingers at the moment. But clearly, we’re disappointed.
“Because he didn’t play at the weekend, there was a thought he could play tonight and have enough time to recover for the weekend. So we’ve tried to manage him, but he’s never played three games in a week. He’s had to have a build-up that I think has been good for him. That’s why it’s very frustrating. It’s a blow for us and a blow for him.
"Sadly, he won’t be the only one that is affected in this period because October was incredibly challenging in terms of the games we had to play. But it is what it is.”
Raheem Sterling defied his critics with a first-half strike to cancel out an opener from Bruno Petkovic.
Midfielder Denis Zakaria - on loan from Juventus - swept home a decisive debut goal for Chelsea who had already won the group.
Although the Swiss international was helped off with 20 minutes to go, Potter added: “He just got a kick. Just the contact. He was fine. No problems with him.”
