Chelsea are expected to be without Thiago Silva for the next six weeks after suffering a knee injury.
The 38-year-old has been the Blues’ standout player in what’s been an incredibly disappointing campaign so far, only occupying a top-half Premier League place by virtue of goal difference.
Silva was substituted early on in Sunday’s 2-0 loss at Tottenham after Harry Kane landed on his leg, with head coach Graham Potter revealing post-match that the defender would need to have a scan.
The Evening Standard report that Silva could miss the next six weeks of action with MCL damage. This would immediately rule him out of several crunch domestic fixtures as well as next week’s Champions League last 16 second leg at home to Borussia Dortmund.
In their official statement, Chelsea said: “Having sustained a knee injury during the first half of Sunday’s match against Tottenham Hotspur, Thiago underwent further assessment and a scan on his return to the training centre on Monday.
“Scan results from those assessments have confirmed damage to Thiago’s knee ligaments and he will now work closely with the club’s medical department during his rehabilitation to return to action as soon as possible.”