BEN CHILWELL’S World Cup dream with England looks to be over after the left-back appeared to pull his hamstring while in action for Chelsea.
The 25-year-old pulled up and collapsed to the floor in injury-time at the end of Chelsea’s dead-rubber 2-1 win against Dinamo Zagreb in the Champions League.
The Three Lions clutched his left hamstring and immediately called for the physios to tend to him with just minutes left of the game.
He now appears to be a major doubt for the World Cup – with England’s first game less than three weeks away.
Chilwell limped off the pitch at full-time with the aid of two of Chelsea’s medical staff.
He couldn’t put any pressure on his left leg as he was helped down the tunnel at the end of the game.
Blues boss Graham Potter admitted afterwards that it doesn’t look good for Chilwell.
The gaffer told BT Sport: “It doesn’t look positive. But it’s a hamstring and we’ll have to scan it and see how it is.”
Chilwell had been expected to challenge for the starting left-back spot in Qatar with Manchester United ace Luke Shaw.
But as he was helped from the pitch he appeared to say the word “popped” to Mason Mount, who then put his hand on his face.
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England boss Gareth Southgate is set to name his squad for the World Cup on November 14, with the tournament getting underway on November 20.
Ex-Leicester star Chilwell ruptured his ACL last November in the Champions League, and spent much of last season out injured.
He tried to return without undergoing surgery but suffered a setback during a training session on Christmas Day and then had an operation.
Chilwell only returned to training in May and skipped his summer holidays to ensure he would be ready for an important season for club and country.
He has only recently reclaimed his place in Chelsea’s starting XI, ahead of new signing Marc Cucurella.
But now he has suffered a fresh injury blow.
Chelsea legend Joe Cole said on BT Sport after the match:Â “Yeah horrible sight for Ben I feel his pain. I had problems at the back end of my career and it is heartbreaking.
“As soon as it happens it’s a shooting pain this close to the World Cup the best you can hope for is two or three weeks before you can get back on the grass and with a World Cup selection it’s really tough.Â
“I really feel for him, again in a game where Chelsea were just seeing it out he played a strong team.
“Overall a win three points, a win top of the group for the club, but you do feel for Ben.”
Meanwhile ex-England manager Glenn Hoddle said: “Sometimes with a hamstring you get a warning sign. It goes into a little contraction and that’s when you put your hand up.
“But that one there just went. His face went you could see. He just turns the ball over on the outside and he grimaced, he was in real pain. That one looks like a nasty one.”
Hoddle added: “It’s such a blow. [I’m] gutted for him.”
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