Chelsea have been handed yet another injury blow just two games into the new season as it has emerged that talented young midfielder Carney Chukwuemeka will be forced to spend six weeks on the sidelines after limping out of action against West Ham.
The Englishman netted his first senior goal against the Hammers and looked lively, but picked up a knee injury in the latter stages of the first half and was forced off when it emerged that he couldn’t carry on, being replaced by Mykhaylo Mudryk.
Now, the Blues have revealed that the injury is expected to keep him out until October, with an official statement revealing that he underwent knee surgery on Monday night and will now work on his rehabilitation at Cobham training ground.
🎙️ “IT’S CARNEY CHUKWUEMEKA…”
Great strike to equalise for Chelsea! 🔵 pic.twitter.com/NEnx9xpC43
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) August 20, 2023
Chukwuemeka himself took to Instagram to add:
“Minor setback but I will be back stronger than ever. Thank you Chelsea fans for your love and support. See you soon.”
The news comes as the latest in a long line of injury blows for Mauricio Pochettino’s side, who are already expected to be without all of Christopher Nkunku, Reece James and Wesley Fofana for the upcoming weeks, with the latter likely to miss much of the season.
There will be major question marks, however, over who fills in at no.10 against the Hatters though, with both Nkunku and his replacement Chukwuemeka sidelined and no obvious alternative in the squad, which could see Pochettino push Conor Gallagher further forward and simultaneously allow him to hand a full debut to one of Romeo Lavia and Moises Caicedo.
