Benoit Badiashile has been ruled out for a month (Picture: Getty)
Chelsea are set to be without key central defender Benoit Badiashile for a month with a groin injury in the latest blow to the Blues’ back line.
The injury, picked up during Chelsea’s 3-1 FA Cup win over Aston Villa last Wednesday, was initially hoped to only be a minor problem.
However, according to the Evening Standard, scans revealed that the Frenchman will face another lengthy spell on the sidelines having already missed 14 games in all competitions this season.
Badiashile will miss Monday’s game against Crystal Palace and, crucially, the Blues’ trip to Wembley for the Carabao Cup final against Liverpool on February 25.
The 22-year-old had started three of the last four games for Mauricio Pochettino’s side as he formed a new partnership with Axel Disasi.
It came after Thiago Silva was dropped from the team following his ageing display in Chelsea’s 4-2 thumping by Wolves a week ago.
Badiashille had earned plaudits for his display at Villa Park, with former Chelsea legend Cesc Fabregas namechecking him as one of the best young ball-playing defenders in Europe.
The Frenchman has endured an injury-hit season (Picture: Getty)
In his absence, Silva, whose contract runs out at the end of the season, may well come straight back into the team but Pochettino may also opt for Levi Colwill who is close to full fitness following his latest injury.
‘Colwill, we need to wait for Sunday to see if he’s available,’ the Argentine revealed on Friday at his pre-match press conference ahead of Monday’s fixture.
Trever Chalobah, meanwhile, is back in training but not ready for first-team action.
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Chelsea can move back inside the top half of the Premier League table with a win against Crystal Palace.
Palace, meanwhile, will seek to bounce back from their disappointing 4-1 loss to Brighton to help ease the pressure on boss Roy Hodgson.
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