Ben Chilwell’s hopes of playing at the World Cup look to be over after he limped off the pitch at the end of Chelsea’s Champions League game this evening.
The 25-year-old collapsed in agony at the end of the 2-1 victory over Dinamo Zagreb, and he had to be helped from the field by the club’s medics.
The full-back has battled through injury over the past 18 months and was slowly returning to form for Graham Potter’s side.
However, with the World Cup just three weeks away, Chilwell faces a race against time to be included in the Three Lions squad.
England’s final squad for the World Cup must be submitted by November 13, eight days before their opening group game against Iran.
Former Chelsea and England star Joe Cole told BT Sport that the timeframe for returning from a hamstring problem is likely to rule Chilwell out of the tournament.
“Horrible sight for Ben Chilwell,” he said. “I feel his pain. I had problems at the back end of my career.
“It’s heartbreaking. 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 onto the pitch. It’s really tough. I really feel for him.”
The news is a significant blow for Chelsea, who face Arsenal in a blockbuster Premier League game this weekend.
The Blues then visit Manchester City in the Carabao Cup in midweek, before travelling to play Newcastle United in the league the following weekend.
