OH NO
Ben Chilwell injury heartbreak – England defender’s World Cup dream in shatters as he suffers hamstring injury for Chelsea in Champions League
Ben Chilwell's England World Cup hopes look to be in serious danger as the England defender suffered an injury during Chelsea's 2-1 victory over Dinamo Zagreb.
The left-back pulled up clutching his hamstring in the last minute of the Champions League dead rubber and hit the deck with his head in his hands.
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Chilwell was unable to put any weight on his left leg and Three Lions manager Gareth Southgate will anxiously await news on the seriousness of the blow.
The World Cup in Qatar begins on November 20 and Southgate will name his squad next week, on Thursdau, November 10.
The England boss is already sweating on injuries to right-backs Reece James and Kyle Walker, as well as midfielder Kalvin Phillips.
Chelsea boss Graham Potter admitted: "(It's) not great. Obviously when he pulls up like that it's a concern so we need to scan, but it doesn't look positive at the moment.
"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."
Reacting on talkSPORT, ex-Chelsea defender Scott Minto said: "As soon as he stopped and clutched his hamstring, I thought he's not only out for suddenly, but please be OK for England.
"I feel deflated. I've really enjoyed this game. It's four straight wins and a big turnaround, we should all be happy.
"But I feel so deflated to see Chilwell not only hobbling off, but not able to put any weight on it. That looks like a serious one."
talkSPORT host Adrian Durham added: "My heart aches just watching him.
"He didn't play a minute of the Euros and now it looks like he won't go to a World Cup."
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Chilwell missed the majority of last season due to injury and struggled to get back into the Chelsea team under previous manager Thomas Tuchel.
The 25-year-old had finally returned to the starting XI under new boss Graham Potter and earned a recall to Southgate's England squad in recent months.
Chilwell was certain to be included in the Three Lions' 26-man squad for Qatar 2022 and looked set to challenge Luke Shaw and Kieran Trippier for the left-wing-back position.
However, Blues manager Potter admitted after the match that the injury does not look good.
"I think you'd have to say so (that it is a concern for the World Cup)," Potter added.
"Obviously I don't want to say any more than that but when a player pulls up like he did, and he felt it, so it's never positive.
"He didn't play at the weekend. There was a thought that he could play tonight and have enough time to recover for the weekend.
"So we've tried to manage him, he's never played the three games in a week, he's had to have the build up, it's been good for him.
"That's what makes it very frustrating. 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."
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