It’s getting from bad to worse for Chelsea manager Frank Lampard as midfielder Mateo Kovacic is now on the ever-growing injury list.
Right now big-name players like Ruben Loftus-Cheek, N’Golo Kante and Callum Hudson-Odoi are on the injury list and it looks like the Croatian has also joined the bandwagon.
As per the Daily Mail, Mateo Kovacic has suffered an ‘inflamed Achilles tendon’ in his right leg which is why he has withdrawn from the Croatia squad for the UEFA EURO qualifiers.
The extent of the injury is not yet known but as per the initial rumours, the midfielder could be out for a few weeks – though the full details will only be known towards the end of this week.
🔁 Mijo Caktaš of @hajduk replaces injured @Mateo_Kova23 in #Croatia squad for the upcoming @UEFAEURO qualifiers against @sfzofficial and Azerbaijan. 🇭🇷#BeProud #Family #Vatreni🔥 pic.twitter.com/foYT3WRSiD
— HNS (@HNS_CFF) September 2, 2019
Mateo Kovacic played for 83 minutes during Chelsea’s 2-2 draw vs Sheffield United this past weekend and he picked up the injury during this match which is probably why he had to be replaced by Michy Batshuayi.
And if the Croatian is indeed sidelined for a couple of weeks then it will be a huge cause of concern for the manager.
Right now N’Golo Kante is also out with an ankle sprain and if both these players cannot make themselves fit during the international break then the midfield department will look really brittle when the Blues take on Wolves on the 14th of this month.
If Mateo Kovacic and Kante are both out then it would mean Jorginho and Ross Barkley will be partnered by Mason Mount in midfield.
And while this might look a good enough trio but Wolves are a force to reckon with and without the proper experience, Chelsea might be forced to take a back seat at the Molineux.
Apart from this, without Mateo Kovacic and Kante, the bench will also look very bleak for Chelsea as 18-year-old Billy Gilmour will be the only recognised midfielder apart from the starting trio.
