Pulisic out for ‘weeks’, Sterling still analyzed amid Chelsea injury crisis

Chelsea‘s ongoing injury crisis took another dire turn on Thursday, with forwards Raheem Sterling and Christian Pulisic each substituted early in the first half.

Both players joined Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in missing Sunday’s FA Cup defeat at the hands of Manchester City, with Graham Potter posting an update on their form.

“Christian had a knee injury the other day in a game,” Porter said, via Football.London. “We’re still analyzing it, but I’d say for him it’s going to be a couple of weeks. Raheem had an action in the first minute of the game, a bit of a weirdness in the back heel, feeling something in the hamstring. We again Analyze that. Obamayan had a tight back yesterday so he couldn’t travel.”

Sterling was injured first, only to be substituted in the fifth minute after an apparent leg injury in the opening game. Ahead of Chelsea’s game against Manchester City, only one of the Blues’ attacking players, Armando Broja, was injured.

Pulisic’s injury came in the 16th minute, a crucial moment in Chelsea’s attack. Marc Cucurella got the ball high up the pitch, found Kai Havertz and sent the ball over the top of the box. Havertz flicked the ball past a defender about nine yards into Pulisic’s path. Pulisic had a first attempt at goal but John Stones slid in from Pulisic’s right to block the shot before making contact with his knee on the follow-up.

Sterling and Pulisic join N’Golo Kante (thigh – out since 14 August), Reece James (knee – injured again in the first post-World Cup game after missing out through injury ), Wesley Fofana (knee – just two appearances since signing from Leicester – hasn’t played since 5 October), Edouard Mendy (shoulder – absent since World Cup ) and Broja (knee – injured during the World Cup break) are on the Blues’ injured list, which is packed with key players from all parts of the field. Mason Mount also missed Thursday’s game after suffering an injury in training this week.

Chelsea (10th) start Thursday’s game 10 points behind fourth-placed Manchester United.