Chelsea attacker Armando Broja suffered a suspected knee injury during the club’s mid-season friendly against Aston Villa and may be out for an extended period.
The 21-year-old striker collided with Ezri Konsa with 19 minutes gone and went down screaming in pain. The Albanian international was clutching his right knee.
Chelsea’s medical staff attended to Broja before taking him off the pitch on a stretcher. Chelsea manager Graham Potter admitted that the injury did not look positive after initial assessments.
“It was an unfortunate action – I think he got caught up with their player and the ground,” Potter said to the club’s official website.
“It doesn’t look positive at the moment, but it is too early to say. Fingers crossed, but it is an awkward one.”
Chelsea resume Premier League action against Bournemouth on December 27 and will likely be without Broja.
The injury comes at an unfortunate time for him, as he had made two consecutive Premier League starts for Chelsea before the World Cup break.
Following Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s horrific performance against Arsenal, Potter decided to switch things and give Broja his chance.
He started the games against Manchester City and Newcastle United. His performances were enterprising despite not scoring or assisting.
What does Broja’s injury mean for Chelsea?
Chelsea have Aubameyang and Havertz, who were initially ahead of Broja in the pecking order. Potter will have to return to his underperforming options.
After a bright start, Aubameyang’s performances and form have dropped.
The former Borussia Dortmund and Arsenal striker has netted only one goal in six Premier League appearances.
Chelsea have failed to provide clear-cut chances for Aubameyang to finish, with the team lacking form.
He has looked disjointed from the squad, with not much to feed on in the final third of the pitch where he is most dangerous.
As for Havertz, he has struggled to impose himself consistently in games. The attacker is a curious case Chelsea do not know how to solve.
Despite his lack of consistency, he still has the ability to come up with big goals and assists for both club and country.
However, his failure to nail down a recognised position in the starting XI is concerning, and so is his end product. He has bagged just two goals in 13 league appearances.
Chelsea’s lack of goalscorers and creators is a problem the club must solve in the upcoming transfer window.
The Blues are reportedly trying to sign Borussia Dortmund talent Youssoufa Moukoko, but it is unclear if he will join in January or summer.
There are also rumours about a short-term contract for recent free agent Cristiano Ronaldo. Chelsea co-owner Todd Boehly was interested in the 37-year-old last summer and may consider him again.
A tough break for Broja
Broja returned from a loan spell at Southampton last summer aiming to make his mark with Chelsea.
He signed a new long-term deal at the club three months ago after netting six goals and creating two big chances in 32 appearances for the south coast club.
Former Chelsea head coach Thomas Tuchel kept him for the season but only gave him sporadic substitute appearances.
Potter did the same but changed his mind months into his tenure following poor performances from Kai Havertz and Aubameyang.
The injury will break Broja’s heart and the momentum he was garnering. He will now have to focus on recovering as early as possible before trying to reestablish himself in the first team.
