Chelsea hit hard by injury woe
English Premier League giants Chelsea have picked up a spate of injury problems ahead of their league clash with Manchester City this weekend.
The defending champions suffered three injuries in their 4-3 Carling Cup third-round defeat at the hands of Newcastle United on Wednesday when Salomon Kalou, Yossi Benayoun and Gael Kakuta all picked up injuries and had to leave the field, leaving the team
to finish the game with only ten men.
Attacker Kalou picked up a thigh injury and was stretchered off the pitch, midfielder Benayoun left the field after suffering a calf complaint and youngster Kakuta was taken off at the interval after sustaining a back problem.
The Blues boss revealed that Kalou and Benayoun were set to undergo medical tests on Thursday, but conceded that he was likely to lose the pair for the next few games.
Frank Lampard is also set to miss out after suffering from an injury.
The 32-year-old midfielder, who has been vital to Chelsea’s successes over the last few years, had hernia surgery during the international break at the start of this month. He had been set to return in the match against West Ham United almost two weeks ago,
but has yet to make his return to action and has missed the club’s last four matches.
Lampard's comeback may be even further away, after he was reported to have told fellow players that he will struggle to be ready for the match against City, after suffering from a groin complaint in a training session.
So, the Carling Cup defeat came as a big setback for manager Carlo Ancelotti. Not only has Chelsea’s hopes of winning an historic quadruple this season come to a shuddering halt, but Ancelotti has also been robbed of the services of at least three of his
men in the foreseeable future.
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