Chelsea have been dealt an enormous blow of their bid to resurrect their faltering kind after head coach Enzo Maresca admitted centre-back Wesley Fofana might miss the remainder of the season.
The 24-year-old has not performed since being substituted within the second half of final month’s 3-0 win over Aston Villa.
Maresca was unable to say whether or not the tear to his hamstring would require surgical procedure however however it’s a damaging blow to a participant that missed everything of final season with an anterior cruciate ligament damage.
“Unfortunately he could be out for the season,” mentioned the pinnacle coach. “We don’t know exactly for the entire season but for sure he could be out for part of it.”
It was initially hoped that Fofana, who had shaped a formidable partnership in central defence alongside Levi Colwill this season, can be out for no quite a lot of weeks.
That evaluation was made within the days following victory in opposition to Villa at Stamford Bridge on December 1, however additional exams and evaluation seem to have condemned the France worldwide to yet one more season severely curtailed by damage.
He made solely 15 Premier League appearances in 2022-23, his first season after becoming a member of from Leicester in a £75million deal, whereas his time on the King Energy Stadium was additionally disrupted by health points.
His loss is additional compounded by the continuing absence of Benoit Badiashile, who changed Fofana in opposition to Villa and performed within the 4-3 win in opposition to Tottenham on December 8 however is predicted to be out till February.
Chelsea could possibly be with out Wesley Fofana for the remainder of the season
“Every time you ask me about Wes I said many times I am in love with Wes, because he is that kind of defender that gives you the chance to press and be aggressive and to leave in one vs one with (Ollie) Watkins,” mentioned Maresca.
“We did exactly the same when Wes was injured with Benoit, one vs one with (Dominic) Solanke and [both defenders] can deal with that. It’s very difficult to find that kind of defender. Now both are injured and we are trying to find different solutions.
Fofana has missed seven league video games to date
“For sure, Wes is a huge loss.
“I do not suppose this sort of damage will be in comparison with the remaining. This one is muscle and beforehand he hasn’t had any muscle issues, so it is utterly completely different. It’s kind of unfortunate, however he will probably be again and he will probably be good in the way in which he was earlier than he was injured.”
Maresca is also set to be without Romeo Lavia for Saturday’s trip to Crystal Palace, the midfielder’s absence so far having coincided with a loss of form that has dropped Chelsea from second to fourth, though captain Reece James could start for the first time since November.
Fofana missed everything of the festive interval
“Football is all about players,” mentioned Maresca. “We can have the best ideas but if you don’t have the players, you struggle.
“Romeo for us is a high participant and for certain with him we’re a greater crew. We have received video games with out him and we have misplaced video games with him however for certain we’re higher with him.
“We’re also a better team with Reece James. It’s all about players. I can give them the tools how to behave but if they’re not good enough we’re not going to win.”
Chelsea January switch window plans
Chelsea have the unresolved concern of a brand new striker left over from the summer time. They pursued Victor Osimhen proper to the deadline however no deal materialised and he’s now on mortgage at Galatasaray.
Since then they may hardly have requested for a greater begin to the season or for higher kind from Nicolas Jackson, who has been glorious because the central striker. It could be that this has modified the pondering as to what sort of new striker they want.
Ipswich’s spectacular hitman Liam Delap is thought to Chelsea head of recruitment Joe Shields and head coach Maresca from their time collectively in Manchester Metropolis’s academy and various larger golf equipment like what they’ve seen from Delap to date this time period.
Chelsea are usually not anticipated to do a lot else except different gamers depart and one who is definite to take action is Ben Chilwell after being frozen out of the squad. Carney Chukwuemeka is one other, whereas there may be additionally hypothesis round Christopher Nkunku and Axel Disasi.
