Graham Potter has claimed in his post-match interview with the club that Chelsea’s Raheem Sterling suffered an injury from a ‘strange back heel’.
The England international was forced off just minutes into last Thursday’s Premier League match against former side Manchester City.
His replacement, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, got his fair share of the headlines after he was substituted later in the game despite not starting.
As for Sterling, the winger has joined an ever-growing list of important players to be sidelined through injury. He is currently absent alongside Reece James, N’golo Kante, Ben Chilwell to name a few.
It has been claimed that first team players at the club are beginning to become concerned about their own fitness due to the mounting issues that they are seeing impact their teammates.
Sterling injury strange
Injuries appear to be happening at innocuous times too. Potter has claimed Sterling suffered his issue attempting a back heel in the first minute of the game.
He said: “Christian just opened up his knee in the game the other day so we’re still analysing it. It’s going to be weeks I would say.
“Raheem just had an action in the first minute that game, a back heel that was a bit strange and he felt something in his hamstring. So again we are analysing that. Aubameyang had a tight back yesterday so was unable to travel.”
The mounting list of absentees is certainly taking its toll on the Blues on the pitch.
The Blues exited the FA Cup yesterday after a 4-0 loss to City. It was the first time they had lost at the third round stage in 25 years.
Dismal league form has also been obvious to see. Chelsea currently sit 10th in the league, behind both of their fellow West London clubs in Fulham and Brentford.