Chelsea have been dealt an injury blow to Ben Chilwell ahead of their Premier League meeting with Manchester United. The 27-year-old will miss Thursday’s clash due to illness and a knee injury, the club confirmed on their official website.
Chilwell has spent most of the season sidelined with injury, be it his hamstring, his knee or an illness. The England international has made 21 appearances in all competitions this season, but he’s amassed 747 minutes in the league.
Pochettino has options in Chilwell’s stead
Chelsea have Levi Colwill and Marc Cucurella who can operate at left-back if Chilwell is unavailable, but Colwill is injured. The 21-year-old has been sidelined with a toe injury since early March, so he won’t be available against United.
Colwill missed Chelsea’s 3-2 win over Newcastle, their FA Cup semi-final win over Leicester, and the 2-2 draw with Burnley. It remains to be seen when he’ll return, but his absence means Cucurella should start on the left. The 25-year-old has started Chelsea’s last two league games, playing for a full 90 minutes in both.
Cucurella has made 15 appearances in all competitions, spending time out with an ankle injury between December and February. The Spanish international has been a good omen for Chelsea, winning two and drawing one from three games since returning. Pochettino will surely keep him in the starting lineup as a result.
When could Chilwell return?
Chilwell is currently out with two separate issues. He has fluid in his knee and picked up an illness while recovering. The 27-year-old has had a stop-start campaign due to injury, so he risks losing his starting place even when fit.
Pochettino gave an update on Chilwell’s situation, saying he is recovering at home. There wasn’t an estimated return date, however. A lot of fluid has been removed from the knee, but he’s now recouping from an unspecified virus.
