Ben Chilwell: Chelsea left-back an England doubt for World Cup after hamstring injury
England left-back Ben Chilwell is a doubt for the World Cup
after suffering a hamstring injury in Chelsea's Champions League win against
Dinamo Zagreb.
The defender, 25, pulled up in stoppage time after clutching the
back of his leg.
He was unable to continue and was pictured leaving Stamford
Bridge on crutches following the Blues' 2-1 win.
"It doesn't look positive," Chelsea boss Graham Potter
said.
"It's a blow for us on an otherwise positive evening I
think. It's a blow to see him pull up like that, it's not a great sight.
"So fingers crossed when we get the scan it isn't bad, it can be not severe, but we have to have fingers crossed at the moment. But clearly we're disappointed."
England kick off their World Cup campaign in Qatar against Iran
on 21 November.
Chilwell has been capped 17 times and was part of the England
squad at Euro 2020, although he did not make an appearance during the
tournament.
He suffered a ruptured cruciate ligament in November last year
and was ruled out until May.
Asked if the injury is a concern for the World Cup, Potter
added: "I think you'd have to say so.
"Obviously I don't want to say any more than that but when
a player pulls up like he did, and he felt it, it's never positive.
"It's a blow for us and a blow for him and sadly he won't
be the only one who's affected like that in this period because October was
incredibly challenging, the games that we had to play, but it is what it is."
'Heartbreaking so close to
World Cup'
Former England manager Glenn Hoddle said on BT Sport: "I
feel for [Ben Chilwell], dreadfully. Sometimes with a hamstring you get a
little warning sign. That's when you put your hand up.
"That one just went. His face went and as he touches the
ball he grimaces and looks in real pain. It looks like a nasty one. I don't
understand why they haven't carried him off.
"That's such a blow. I am gutted for him."
Former Chelsea and England midfielder Joe Cole said he felt for
Chilwell given how close it is to the World Cup.
"It's heartbreaking," he said on BT Sport. "As
soon as it happens all you can think about is that it is so close to a World
Cup.
"If it's a hamstring injury usually the least you can hope
for is two to three weeks before you get back on to the pitch. It's really
tough. I really feel for him."
