CONOR GALLAGHER gave England and Chelsea an injury scare after hobbling off against Brentford.
The midfielder started for the Blues at the Gtech Community Stadium but was forced off after just 15 minutes, replaced by Mateo Kovacic.
Gallagher, 22, has played his way into the England reckoning ahead of this winter’s World Cup in Qatar.
And he is expected to be named in Gareth Southgate’s provisional squad this week.
But his knock will come as a worry to the Three Lions boss, who has already lost multiple starters, with the tournament just one month away.
Blues team-mate Reece James is almost certainly out of the Qatar showpiece after suffering a knee injury.
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Fellow right-back Kyle Walker is also a huge doubt after undergoing groin surgery.
Although Chelsea manager Graham Potter talked down Gallagher’s substitution after drawing at Brentford, putting it down to illness.
Potter said: “I haven’t spoken to the doctors but he felt ill. He felt like he was going to be sick.
“You could probably see that in his first 15minutes, he wasn’t quite himself. Hopefully it’s just a 24-hour thing and he will be okay.
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“Obviously that affected him and us to start with. Hopefully he recovers quickly.”
For Potter, Gallagher’s woe comes after confirming N’Golo Kante is also out until after the World Cup.
He said: “He’s due to see a consultant at the weekend.
“It’s a setback so it’s not good news. But anything other than that, at this stage I can’t give you any more.
“Historically, there are things which have happened which are a concern and we need to get the bottom of that.
“It’s a setback in the last stage of his rehab so again that’s worrying.
“But all we can do is get the right diagnosis, the right consultation and then try help him get back to full fitness and enjoying his football.”
Kante and James join summer signing Wesley Fofana on the injured list.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
