Leeds United have encountered an injury crisis ahead of their Premier League confrontation with Chelsea this weekend.
The Telegraph revealed today that Kalvin Phillips, Liam Cooper and Patrick Bamford will all miss the meeting at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.
Leeds hanging by a thread
Phillips is set to be side-lines for two months, after damaging his hamstring against Brentford last Sunday.
In that same fixture, Cooper suffered a similar problem and could be out for the same length of time.
Bamford, just back from the treatment table himself, seemingly injured himself whilst celebrating Leeds’ late equaliser at Elland Road.
The former Chelsea striker had been absent since the middle of September due to an ankle problem.
He made his first appearance for nearly three months in that 2-2 draw with Brentford, but could be out for another two weeks thanks to the overzealous reaction to his stoppage-time strike.
Phillips’ absence will arguably be the biggest loss to Marcelo Bielsa, based on the results his side have managed during the England international’s previous spell in the medical room.
Earlier in the campaign, he missed games against Southampton and Wolverhampton Wanderers, fixtures Leeds failed to win.
Chelsea’s own concerns
Bielsa’s squad has been ravaged with injuries this season, a reasonable excuse for their mediocre start to the term.
Arguably on par with Chelsea’s issues, who have been hit with a wave of wounds in the past few months.
Mateo Kovacic (isolating for covid), N’Golo Kante (knee), Trevoh Chalobah (hamstring), Ben Chilwell (ACL) and Jorginho (back) will not take part in tonight’s Champions League clash with Zenit St Petersburg.
Romelu Lukaku is still regaining fitness, whilst Marcos Alonso and Kai Havertz took knocks in the defeat to West Ham United.
Will there be any players left for the battle between the Blues and the Whites?!
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