Ben Chilwell’s World Cup hopes hang in the balance after apparent injury

Ben Chilwell’s hopes of playing for England at the Qatar World Cup were thrown into doubt on Wednesday night after the left-back suffered an apparent hamstring injury playing for Chelsea against Dinamo Zagreb in the Champions League.

Chilwell, 25, was selected to start the match at Stamford Bridge and played all 90 minutes, only to fall to the turf clutching his left hamstring in stoppage time.

The defender was seen limping and was guided down the tunnel by Chelsea’s medical staff at the end of the 2-1 victory.

When asked about his injury, head coach Graham potter said: “Not great. When he pulls up like that it’s a concern. We need to scan it but it’s not positive at the moment.

“It’s a blow for us on an otherwise positive evening. To see him pull up like that isn’t a great sight, so fingers crossed when we get it scanned it isn’t as bad (as it looked). Clearly we’re disappointed.”

Pressed on whether he is a concern for the World Cup, he added: “You’d have to say so, yeah. I don’t want to add any more than that but when a player pulls up like he did and he felt it, it’s never positive.

“I spoke to him briefly. He just felt something as he was setting off. Obviously he’s disappointed and upset.”

Chilwell has been working his way back to full fitness after sustaining a ruptured cruciate ligament in a 4-0 win over Juventus in the group stages of last season’s Champions League.

He has made 12 appearances in all competitions for Chelsea this season, scoring one goal.

His apparent injury will no doubt be concerning for England manager Gareth Southgate, with the Qatar World Cup now only two weeks away.

Chilwell has won 17 caps for England, scoring one goal, and was a part of the England squad that reached the final of Euro 2020.

England are scheduled to begin their World Cup campaign on November 21 against Iran.

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