Chelsea are expected to be without Maxence Lacroix for the rest of the year after the defender suffered a grade three hamstring tear during the Carabao Cup clash with Liverpool.
The former Crystal Palace player was replaced just before half-time on Wednesday after sharply pulling up while tracking a run by Cody Gakpo and immediately signalling to the bench.
Injury timeline and expected absence
Lacroix was not expected to feature in this afternoon's Premier League match against Manchester United, and manager Xabi Alonso has also ruled him out of next week's game against Sunderland, the final fixture before the November international break.
Speaking at a press conference on Friday, Alonso said: 'Max picked up an injury and we expect he is not going to be ready before the international break. He will be a few weeks out.'
TalkSPORT report the hamstring issue is a grade three tear, a severe injury that can take from eight to 12 weeks to heal. There is now concern at Chelsea that the defender will not play again until after Christmas and into the New Year.
Impact on Chelsea's season
That timeline would rule Lacroix out of 10 games in total, including key fixtures against Liverpool and Manchester City in December.
Lacroix has been a regular starter under Alonso since his summer move from Crystal Palace, playing the full 90 minutes in seven of Chelsea's eight Premier League games and accumulating more minutes than any other squad member. He also started every match of the club's Carabao Cup campaign, which ended in a penalty shootout defeat on Wednesday night.
Chelsea are also without Joao Pedro, who faces weeks out with a thigh injury picked up last week, while Reece James continues his recovery from minor knee surgery.
