A devastating blow for the Chelsea full-back
Ben Chilwell is set to miss the rest of the season, with the Chelsea full-back set to undergo surgery on a knee ligament injury this week.
Chilwell suffered the injury during Chelsea's Champions League game against Juventus, with scans showing the 25-year-old had suffered a partial tear in his ACL.
Football.London reported that Chelsea initially held off performing surgery, instead allowing the England international to begin rehabilitation at the club's training ground.
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During Chilwell's initial rehab programme, Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel insisted that they wouldn't rush him back from injury.
He said: "The decision is to treat it conservatively.
"The next six weeks will tell the story if he makes it and will be fully available within this six weeks, or after the six weeks or needs surgery after that.
"Now I only care about the six weeks. The first reaction of his body is very positive. Hopefully, it stays like this.
"This is the decision after all the examinations and it is a very responsible decision, there is no rush in it and no pressure. This is a reasonable way to do it so all the focus is on the next six weeks."
There were signs that he was recovering after images were shown seeing Chilwell undergoing light fitness work earlier this month, but after going for his second scan on Monday (27 December), results showed that he would need to undergo surgery.
With the full-back now likely to be unavailable for the rest of the season, Tuchel will now largely have to rely on Marcos Alonso, but could also call upon captain César Azpilicueta as well as Callum Hudson-Odoi, who has regularly played in the wing-back department since Tuchel's arrival.
Chelsea will look to continue to put pressure on the Premier League's top two on Wednesday night when they face Brighton and Hove Albion at Stamford Bridge.
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