BEN CHILWELL is OUT of the World Cup – and will miss a large chunk of the season.
The Chelsea and England left-back is undergoing scans on the injury which he picked up in the final moments of his club’s 2-1 Champions League win over Dinamo Zagreb on Wednesday.
Stricken Chilwell is being sent for scans on his crocked left leg but there is a suspicion he may have torn the hamstring muscle – which is more serious than a routine pull.
The player even told pals he heard a ‘pop’ as he felt pain in his leg while chasing the ball in the dying moments of the Group E game at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea boss Graham Potter revealed immediately after the match that Chilwell’s hopes of making the 26-man England squad for the World Cup later this month are grim.
Potter said: “When a player pulls up like that it is never positive.”
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A full diagnosis is expected within the next 24 hours but Chilwell looks destined for a long spell on the treatment table alongside club and country team-mate Reece James.
James damaged knee ligaments at AC Milan last month and, while insisting he can still make it to Qatar, faces an uphill battle.
England boss Gareth Southgate names his 26-man squad for the tournament next Thursday. Chilwell was part of the Euro 2020 squad but did not play a minute.
He then ruptured ligaments in his knee in November last year and spent a long period of the summer this year getting himself in top shape.
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The awful news comes with Southgate seeing a number of his top Three Lions defenders become doubts for the World Cup.
Kyle Walker is fighting to be fit along with James and Kyle Walker-Peters.
John Stones has been struggling and Harry Maguire has had a lack of game time at Manchester United.
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Midfielder Kalvin Phillips is almost certainly out as he struggles to recover from a recurring shoulder problem.
Striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin has only just come back from injury, and is trying to find his form again – although he did score his first goal of the season in Everton’s recent 3-0 home win over Crystal Palace.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
