Chelsea are concerned that defender Maxence Lacroix might be sidelined until January following a serious hamstring injury sustained during their Carabao Cup loss against Liverpool. The French international, who transferred to the Blues from Crystal Palace for £52 million during the summer transfer window, faces a potential absence of up to 10 matches after suffering the issue during Wednesday’s penalty shootout defeat.
Managerial Confirmation and Injury Context
Manager Xabi Alonso verified that Lacroix will remain out of action until at least following the international break, while further reports indicate his recovery period could stretch out significantly longer. The 26-year-old defender incurred the injury near the conclusion of the first half while sprinting in an attempt to block an opponent’s shot. Having featured as a regular starter under Alonso throughout the campaign, Lacroix has appeared in the starting lineup for all but one of Chelsea’s 11 fixtures across all competitions. Only Morgan Rogers has logged more minutes on the pitch for the club, transforming his potential layoff into a major obstacle during a congested schedule.
Discussing the player’s physical status prior to Saturday’s Premier League fixture against Manchester United, Alonso stated, “Max, he picked up an injury, and we expect that he’s not going to be ready before the international break. So he will be a few weeks out.”
Defensive Replacements and Squad Updates
Alonso must evaluate alternative central defensive combinations because Jorrel Hato and Aaron Anselmino are additionally sidelined due to injuries. The remaining central defensive choices at the manager’s disposal include Wesley Fofana, Levi Colwill, and Josh Acheampong.
“With Max’s injury, we have Wes, we have Levi [Colwill], Josh [Acheampong], he could play as well as centre-back,” Alonso explained. “Jorrel when he is back with the team [is an option]. Wes has played [and] even if he missed the penalty [in the shootout], I think that he had a good game. He was consistent, he was strong and I saw many positives from his performance. We know the level that he has had and he’s going to be important.”
Additionally, Alonso provided an update on goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, confirming that he is currently having a protective mask fitted while recovering from a broken jaw.
