Wesley Fofana’s season could be over after Enzo Maresca revealed the full extent of the Chelsea star’s hamstring injury.
Having missed the entirety of last season through injury, Fofana has enjoyed somewhat of a resurgence this campaign, emerging as Chelsea’s best defender.
His efforts have put the Blues firmly in the top-four race, though a push for the Premier League title seems unlikely with the club currently 10 points behind Liverpool having played a game more.
However, it appears Maresca will have to make do without the centre-back for many months to come, with the head coach sharing a worrying update ahead of Saturday’s clash at Crystal Palace.
Fofana had hobbled off with a hamstring injury during the 3-0 win against Aston Villa at the start of the December, with Maresca saying at the time that the Frenchman would be sidelined for around a month.
But he’s now confirmed that the injury is a lot more severe than first thought and there is no timescale on his return.
‘Unfortunately Wes will be out for a very long time. No [he doesn’t need surgery], not at the moment,’ the Italian said in his press conference.
‘Unfortunately he could be out for the season. We don’t know exactly but he could be out for part of the season.
‘It was the first update and the first information we had but having a test, we realised it was worst than what we thought at the beginning. It is hamstring and unfortunately, we are going to lose him for a while.’
Fofana has struggled massively with injuries, missing a total of 86 games and counting for club and country since his £70million move from Leicester in 2022.
In further injury news, Maresca confirmed that Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Benoit Badiashile are still in the treatment room, but captain Reece James could play at Selhurst Park.
‘Reece is back from last game. In the last game, he was with us in the squad but the plan was not to give him minutes. Tomorrow we can give him minutes. Hopefully he can get minutes very soon.
‘Romeo [Lavia] is very close, he has started to work with us. For the rest, not any updates. Kiernan is still out. Benoit will be out for at least until February.’
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