Chelsea hit by fresh injury blow ahead of Leicester clash

Chelsea has been dealt a significant injury blow as their captain will miss Saturday’s Premier League clash against Leicester City due to a hamstring issue.

The player recently returned to action after missing the start of the season but has encountered another setback. Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca confirmed on Thursday that the player will not be available for the trip to the King Power Stadium, emphasizing the need for caution given his recent injury history.

“[He] felt something small, and we don’t want to take any risks this weekend,” Maresca told reporters. “Hopefully it’s not something longer. He felt something, he has to be out and then we’ll see. It’s his hamstring, a muscle problem.”

The player has faced fitness challenges over the past two seasons, but Maresca remains optimistic about his long-term recovery. “For sure. But in this moment, it is not happening,” Maresca added.

Chelsea is also grappling with fitness issues for several other players, including Cole Palmer, Levi Colwill, Romeo Lavia, Malo Gusto, and Wesley Fofana. “Some of them are better, some of them we’ll test today,” Maresca said regarding the injury list.

Maresca also addressed speculation about club managers influencing players’ withdrawal from international duty. “To be honest, we played Arsenal and then I left for a week,” he said when asked about any involvement in Palmer and Colwill’s absence from the England squad.

Saturday’s match will mark Maresca’s return to Leicester, where he led the team to promotion from the Championship last season before moving to Stamford Bridge. Reflecting on his time with the Foxes, he said: “It was a fantastic season because I met good people and in terms of players it was fantastic.

“We had a fantastic connection between the players and staff, this is something you need to create when you want to make something important.

“I will be thankful to them all my life, we have a special connection.”