England boss Gareth Southgate has delivered an injury update on Ben Chilwell ahead of Chelsea's match against Newcastle United at the weekend.
The Blues travel to St. James' Park on Saturday afternoon, but could be without one of their key players in Chilwell. The England left-back suffered a back injury during the Three Lions' 2-0 defeat to Belgium in the Nations League on Sunday.
The 23-year-old was on the ground in clear pain before being replaced by Arsenal youngster Bukayo Saka just 38 minutes into the match.
Chilwell has enjoyed a fantastic start to life at Stamford Bridge after completing a move from Leicester City over the summer transfer window.
In the Premier League, the Blues defender has scored twice, as well as providing two assists for his team-mates. He has also offered some much-needed solidity on the left-hand side of Chelsea's back four, as Frank Lampard 's team continue to make massive strides on the defensive front.
Southgate, speaking ahead of England's final group match against Iceland on Wednesday, delivered this very brief update on Chilwell.
"We'll keep a check on Chilwell, he's still under treatment for the back issue he had the other day," Southgate explained.
Chilwell's start to life with the Blues has certainly caught the eye of many, and if he isn't available for the trip up to Newcastle, then it would be a huge blow for Lampard and his team.
Former Chelsea left-back Ashley Cole has been so impressed with how the new signing has settled into life in West London, and also revealed a conversation he had with him.
Cole said on Sky Sports: "I think coming into a young team probably helped him, but from minute one, he was hungry to prove that he was good enough.
"That's what he said to me, that he wants to come here, hit the ground running, what do I have to do? I said: ‘Listen, just keep working hard and want to play for the club, want to win,’ and straight away, he’s come in and done that.
"I think Chelsea look defensively better with him. Again, they have that better balance. I think he can handle the ball in every area - defensively, in the middle-third, he can deal with it and of course, attacking-wise, he can cross, he can shoot, he can combine. He’s got it all."
The Blues could be forced to bring back Marcos Alonso into Chilwell's usual position, or Emerson Palmieri - who has been linked with a move away from London.
