Enzo Maresca has confirmed Chelsea defender Trevoh Chalobah will probably be unavailable for around a week after limping off against Aston Villa.
The centre-back was forced to withdraw from the Premier League match against Unai Emery’s side with a back injury in the first half, going down in a challenge after just eight minutes. The centre-back appeared to be holding his back or his side and after receiving medical treatment, was replaced by Tosin Adarabioyo.
Speaking to reporters on Monday ahead of the Blues’ clash against Southampton on Tuesday, Maresca provided an update on Chalobah. “He had a check yesterday and he will be around one week or 10 days,” the Italian said.
“It’s not an important injury so that is good, but it’s a shame because we lose another player with the amount of injuries.”
Chalobah has been a regular in Chelsea‘s starting lineup since returning from a loan spell with Crystal Palace in the January transfer window. The team currently have a number of players on the sidelines through injury, including strikers Nicolas Jackson and Marc Guiu. Centre-backs Wesley Fofana and Benoit Badiashile are continuing their own recoveries from injury and hope to be back available for selection next month.
Enzo Fernandez had put Chelsea ahead at Villa Park on Saturday but Marco Asensio scored twice in the second half to give Villa the 2-1 win. It was another disappointing performance for the Blues, who now sit seventh in the league.
Asked what has changed in recent weeks given the Blues’ poor form, Maresca said: “Probably there are always more than one reason. In the last seven, eight, 10 games, the huge difference for me has been especially inside the box – both boxes.
“We always create chances so the difference has been inside the box. We need to be defensively more strong and more clinical when we get the chance.”
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