Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois will need surgery on his right knee
confirmed Jose Mourhino
Jose Mourinho has suffered another major setback after it emerged keeper
Thibaut Courtois is expected to be out for at least two months after suffering
a serious knee injury.
Chelsea doctors were attempting to assess the full extent of the issue and
although substantial swelling was preventing them from making an exact
diagnosis, Courtois has already been warned he faces an extended spell on the
sidelines.
Chelsea’s initial fears that Courtois had suffered
cruciate-ligament damage are believed to have been dismissed, but the
23-year-old Belgian international has been ruled out of Saturday's trip to
Everton.
Mourinho is under mounting pressure at Stamford Bridge after just one win
in the opening four Barclays Premier League games of the season and the loss of
his first-choice keeper is another major blow.
Courtois has established himself as one of the world’s
best goalkeepers since his return to Chelsea from a loan spell at Atletico
Madrid.
Although he has had a difficult start to the season
following his dismissal in the opening-day draw with Swansea, Mourinho needed
his main man at Goodison Park. Summer signing Asmir Begovic will deputise.
Chelsea have a tricky run of fixtures coming up and next week turn their
attentions to Champions League action with a group game at home to Maccabi
Tel-Aviv.
After his return to the Chelsea team following suspension, Courtois
conceded twice in the victory at West Brom and two more in the defeat at home
by Crystal Palace before the international break.
He started Belgium’s European Championship qualifying victories against
Bosnia-Herzegovina and Cyprus before returning to Chelsea on Tuesday.
The keeper trained on Wednesday, but suffered the injury during practice
which immediately ruled him out of the Everton trip.
Another player facing a lengthy injury absence is Arsenal’s Jack Wilshere.
He could be out for another three months after making a slow recovery from a
hairline fracture to his left leg.
The Arsenal midfielder is not expected to be fit for England’s next round
of Euro 2016 qualifiers in October and surgery has not yet been ruled out.
It is another blow for Wilshere, 23, who was hurt in training four weeks
ago. He only returned in May after five months out with an ankle injury.
Manager Arsene Wenger had hoped he would be back in time to face Stoke City
at the Emirates on Saturday but met with Arsenal doctors to discuss his
condition. He could be back in four weeks but if surgery is required, the
recovery period may be up to three months.
‘I have not seen Jack Wilshere in the last two or three days,’ Wenger said.
‘He is progressing more slowly than expected.
‘I expected him to be back and available after the international break, but
unfortunately he will not be available for Saturday. He had a little setback.’
Wenger, who confirmed that Danny Welbeck will be out until Christmas, also
responded to fans’ criticism of Arsenal’s failure to sign a striker in the
transfer window and called for unity.
‘The solutions we had were not convincing. To support the club and the team
is to stand behind the players,’ he said. ‘It is not expecting someone coming
down from heaven to sort out problems.
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