Chelsea suffer injury blow as star limps off in the first-half with back injury
CHELSEA have been dealt an injury blow after Ben Chilwell limped off in England’s loss to Belgium.
Chilwell was replaced by Bukayo Saka after 38 minutes of the Nations League clash with a suspected back injury.
Ben Chilwell was forced off against Belgium with a suspected back injury
The former Leicester full-back missed the start of Chelsea’s season with a foot injury but has been a mainstay in Frank Lampard’s first XI since his return to fitness.
Injury and self-isolation kept him out of England’s previous Nations League fixtures.
Chelsea suffer injury blow as Ben Chilwell limps off in the first-half against Belgium with back injury
The match against Belgium was Chilwell’s first cap in almost a year.
The news will leave Frank Lampard sweating after Chilwell made an extremely promising start to his Blues career.
He has played a key part in a Chelsea backline which conceded just one goal in six games before the international break.
The 23-year-old is now a doubt for Chelsea’s trip to Newcastle next Saturday.
Chilwell was on the pitch for both of Belgium’s goals against Gareth Southgate’s side, as England fell two goals behind within the first 30 minutes.
Chilwell’s former Leicester team-mate Youri Tielemans gave Roberto Martinez’s side a 10th minute lead with a deflected effort from outside the box.
Dries Mertens then doubled Belgium’s advantage from a free-kick.
The result means England are now unable to qualify for next year’s Nations League finals.
