Chelsea supporters on social media were left in a state of despair thanks to Thomas Tuchel’s recent comments about Ruben Loftus-Cheek.
Tuchel confirmed yesterday that Loftus-Cheek missed the 3-3 Champions League draw with Zenit St. Petersburg because he picked up an injury in the warm-up.
This meant the Blues boss was forced to deploy Reece James as the other central midfielder alongside Ross Barkley.
With N’Golo Kante, Mateo Kovacic and Jorginho already absent from the match, the latest stab to the squad couldn’t have come at a worse time.
Especially as Chelsea’s next Premier League game is just over 48 hours away.
Will Ruben return for Leeds?
Leeds United travel to Stamford Bridge on Saturday, awash with their own medical issues but boosted by the prospect of facing a weakened Tuchel team.
To start Reece James and Barkley together in a fixture of such a history and significance is not ideal.
Hopefully the Chelsea doctors can mend Loftus-Cheek and or Jorginho ahead of the weekend showdown in South West London.
Blues fans certainly hoped for a Christmas miracle to occur before Leeds head to the capital.
Here’s how they reacted to Loftus-Cheek’s omission from the Zenit match on Twitter:
Problems aplenty
Anytime the words injury and Loftus-Cheek are said in the same sentence, a shudder can be felt amongst the Chelsea followers.
The Achilles injury that kept the 25-year-old out for nearly a whole season still sticks with him to this day.
Although it appears he has returned to full fitness, there will always be a caution sign hanging above his head.
Thankfully, upon first impressions, the knock the midfielder picked up last night seemed minor.
He still sat on the bench instead of in the stands.
Perhaps we are clutching at straws, yet positivity is the only way forward at the moment.
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