England left-back Ben Chilwell is a doubt for the World Cup after suffering a hamstring injury in Chelsea’s Champions League win against Dinamo Zagreb.
The defender, 25, pulled up in stoppage time after clutching the back of his leg. He was unable to continue and had to be helped off the pitch at full-time as the Blues won 2-1.
“It doesn’t look positive,” Chelsea boss Graham Potter said. “It’s a blow for us on an otherwise positive evening I think. It’s a blow to see him pull up like that, it’s not a great sight.
“So fingers crossed when we get the scan it isn’t bad, it can be not severe, but we have to have fingers crossed at the moment. But clearly we’re disappointed.”
England kick off their World Cup campaign in Qatar against Iran on November 21.
Chilwell has been capped 17 times and was part of the England squad at Euro 2020, although he did not make an appearance during the tournament. He suffered a ruptured cruciate ligament in November last year and was ruled out until May.
Asked if the injury is a concern for the World Cup, Potter added: “I think you’d have to say so.
“Obviously I don’t want to say any more than that but when a player pulls up like he did, and he felt it, it’s never positive. It’s a blow for us and a blow for him and sadly he won’t be the only one who’s affected like that in this period because October was incredibly challenging, the games that we had to play, but it is what it is.”
Former England manager Glenn Hoddle said on BT Sport: “I feel for [Ben Chilwell], dreadfully. Sometimes with a hamstring you get a little warning sign. That’s when you put your hand up.
“That one just went. His face went and as he touches the ball he grimaces and looks in real pain. It looks like a nasty one. I don’t understand why they haven’t carried him off. That’s such a blow. I am gutted for him.”
Former Chelsea and England midfielder Joe Cole said he felt for Chilwell given how close it is to the World Cup.
“It’s heartbreaking,” he said on BT Sport. “As soon as it happens all you can think about is that it is so close to a World Cup. If it’s a hamstring injury usually the least you can hope for is two to three weeks before you get back on to the pitch. It’s really tough. I really feel for him.”
