Ben Chilwell Joins Reece James In Chelsea’s Injury List

The manager of Chelsea, Mauricio Pochettino has confirmed that the club’s assistant captain, Ben Chilwell has sustained a hamstring injury.

Ben Chilwell had to undergo a scan after being forced out of Chelsea’s Carabao Cup third-round win over Brighton on Wednesday, September 27.

Ahead of Chelsea’s Premier League game against Fulham on Monday, coach Pochettino confirmed that the injury was a bad hamstring issue that could keep him out of action for a while.

Chilwell’s hamstring issue is coming weeks after the club’s new captain, Reece James suffered a thigh injury which has kept him out of action throughout this month.

Recall that James managed to play just 16 games for Chelsea last season due to hamstring, thigh, and knee issues.

Also, Ben Chilwell managed to play 23 Premier League games for the Stamford Bridge-based club last season due to a hamstring injury.

“When they’re at their best, they are the best full-backs in the world,” coach Pochettino said.

“At all clubs, important players are missed when they don’t play.

“If the question is ‘do we miss them?’ Of course. Reece is a top player and [Chilwell] also.”

Due to the absence of Chilwell and James in Chelsea’s defense, coach Pochettino has to pick Axel Disasi, Levi Colwill, or Marc Cucurella to play as fullbacks against Fulham on Monday.

The coach said, “All teams when they miss important players are affected [in their] performance.

“Why did we not sign another Ben Chilwell and another Reece James? Because there’s only one Reece James and one Ben Chilwell.

“If you have in the squad one top player in one position, it’s difficult to bring in another one in the same position to sit on the bench. It’s about balance.”