Chelsea confirm Wesley Fofana injury blow as ACL surgery & rehabilitation plan revealed

Chelsea have confirmed Wesley Fofana will be sidelined for months after undergoing anterior cruciate ligament surgery.

The 22-year-old was not part of the 29-man Chelsea squad who flew to the United States for their pre-season tour on Monday after it was revealed he was being assessed for a knee injury.

Fofana has been setback by knee problems during his first year at Chelsea after his big-money transfer from Leicester City last summer, and now the France international has been handed another serious blow.

Chelsea announced Fofana has undergone anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction and will now begin his recovery.

“Defender Wesley Fofana has undergone anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction surgery,” a club statement read.

“The 22-year-old did not travel to America for the club’s pre-season tour due to specialist medical assessments, which unfortunately confirmed that an operation would be required.

“Wesley will now begin his recovery and work with the club’s medical department at Cobham during his rehabilitation phase.”

Mauricio Pochettino now has just Thiago Silva, Trevoh Chalobah, Levi Colwill and Benoit Badiashile as hit fit senior centre-backs. Badiashile is yet to travel out to the United States, with youngsters Alfie Gilchrist and Bashir Humphreys both with the first team in America.