Chelsea dealt devastating injury blow with forgotten summer signing set to start
Chelsea are set to be without goalkeeper Robert Sanchez for the entire festive period after suffering a knee injury.
Sanchez has assumed the role of number one at Stamford Bridge, since joining from Brighton in the summer transfer window. However, the Spaniard picked up an issue during the defeat to Everton which could see him sidelined for four weeks.
That could leave the Blues without their first choice stopper for five Premier League matches, and the FA Cup third-round clash with Preston at the start of January.
Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino, who is already dealing with a host of absences, will now call upon the untested Djordje Petrovic. Pochettino said: “I think always when you suffer an injury and he was our No.1 goalkeeper so far, always a player we will miss.
“We have another goalkeeper who is working hard to be ready. Of course, very sad because we are going to lose a player, maybe for a few weeks. We need to wait and see perfectly the situation and also with Reece [James] and Marc Cucurella.
Chelsea complete record-breaking Enzo Fernandez transfer after deadline day rush
“From the beginning we are being hit with different circumstances. We need to be strong because the competition doesn't stop.”
Petrovic - like Sanchez - arrived in West London during the summer window, signing a seven-year contract. He came off the bench at Goodison Park, and will now make his first start for the club when they host Sheffield United on Saturday.
“I have faith in all of my players,” Pochettino said on Petrovic. “He arrived at Chelsea because we believed he had great potential.
Djordje Petrovic replaced Sanchez at Goodison Park and is now set for an extended role in the starting XI“Now after four or five months working with us is the moment for him to step up and feel good because we have the trust in him. Now is to make the debut in Stamford Bridge, yes we trust that he can perform in the way we want.”
It’s not all bad news for Pochettino though, who will be able to call upon forward Christopher Nkunku for the first time this season. The former RB Leipzig striker has yet to appear since his summer move, after picking up an injury in pre-season.
“He can be involved. That is very good news. To be involved tomorrow and be in the squad and to feel the competition after the pre-season is good news for us.
“We need to be calm and quiet so not to put all the pressure on him. Now he's going to evolve, know the Premier League. It's a big motivation for us, for the teammates, and the fans to see a player that should be important for us and to be in the squad for the first time.”
Chelsea welcome the Blades having lost three of their last four Premier League matches, knowing they could end the weekend as low as 14th in the table.
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
