Ben Chilwell suffers hamstring injury weeks before World Cup

Forum 1 year ago

Ben Chilwell suffers hamstring injury weeks before World Cup

England full-back Ben Chilwell is now a major doubt for the FIFA World Cup in Qatar after hobbling off with an apparent hamstring injury in Chelsea's UEFA Champions League win over Dinamo Zagreb.

Chilwell was widely expected to fight with Man Utd's Luke Shaw for a place in the starting XI in Qatar, but his injury has thrown his place in the sqaud at all into doubt.

The full-back pulled up in the dying embers of Chelsea's 2-1 win over Zagreb - a win which saw them top Group E ahead of AC Milan - and was visibly distraught upon realising that his World Cup hopes are hanging in the balance.

"Not great," manager Graham Potter said after the game when asked for an update. "When he pulls up like that it’s a concern. We need to scan but it’s not positive at the moment.

"I don't want to add anymore than that but when a player pulls up like Ben did, it's never positive."

With the World Cup now just 18 days away from kicking off, England manager Gareth Southgate will likely have to think about potential alternatives to Chilwell at left-back for his squad in Qatar.

Kyle Walker-Peters and Ryan Sessegnon may both be considered, with the former already making two appearances for the Three Lions in 2022 - his first two for his country.