CHELSEA have suffered a huge injury blow after Benoit Badiashile was ruled out for at least a month.
That means that Mauricio Pochettino will be without the defender for the Carabao Cup Final against Liverpool on February 25.
The 22-year-old French international suffered a groin problem during last weeks’ FA Cup victory at Aston Villa.
After undergoing scans to determine the damage, the news has now been confirmed - and it is not good news for Poch nor the ex-Monaco ace.
Badiashile is set to be sidelined for around four weeks, firstly meaning he is out of tonight’s trip to Crystal Palace in the Premier League.
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And he is also out of the away game against reigning champions Manchester City next week.
Then comes the Wembley showdown with the Reds before the FA Cup fifth round clash with Leeds.
Badiashile will hope to have returned to training by the time Chelsea head to Brentford on March 2 and he could be back for the home game with Newcastle on March 11.
The centre-back joined the Blues from Monaco for £35m in January 2023.
He penned a seven-and-a-half year contract upon his arrival at Stamford Bridge but he has struggled for minutes this term due to injury problems.
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That led to speculation that Lyon were looking to bring him back to Ligue 1 last month but the Blues decided to keep him.
But Badiashile partnered Axel Disasi at centre-half against Villa after Thiago Silva was dropped and the pair impressed together.
Now any hopes of them forming a long-term partnership will have to take a back seat until he returns from injury.
Meanwhile, fellow defender Levi Colwill has provided a boost to Pochettino after he was given the green light for the game at Palace.
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The England international, 20, has missed four games due to a hamstring injury.
And Trevoh Chalobah, who is yet to play this season due to a thigh problem, is nearing a comeback and has returned to training.
