Chelsea have revealed that goalkeeper Edouard Mendy will be sidelined for the foreseeable future with a fractured finger.
The Senegal international has endured a mixed campaign, being limited to just 10 starts and one substitute outing due to a number of inconsistent showings and the form of Kepa Arrizabalaga.
Mendy made four starts before the World Cup due to an injury to Arrizabalaga, but he has not featured in the Blues squad since the resumption of action.
The 30-year-old has been dealing with a shoulder problem, one which Graham Potter hinted that he was close to overcoming in order to return to the first-team squad.
However, Mendy has been ruled out of contention for a number of weeks after undergoing surgery on a fractured finger sustained in training this week.
While Chelsea have not disclosed a potential timeframe for his return, a statement added that he would now "work closely with the club's medical department during his rehabilitation phase."
Chelsea are scheduled to play four matches from January 8 through to January 21, that period starting and finishing with games at Manchester City and Liverpool.
Between those fixtures are London derbies with Fulham and Crystal Palace, and Mendy will hope to nearing a return to action when Chelsea play the reverse fixture with the former on February 3.
The issue represents Chelsea's latest injury setback with the number of absentees now in double figures after three other injuries were sustained this week.
Mason Mount suffered a minor problem in training ahead of Thursday's game with Man City, before Raheem Sterling and Christian Pulisic were both injured in the opening quarter of that Premier League fixture.
N'Golo Kante, Reece James, Wesley Fofana, Ben Chilwell, Armando Broja and Ruben Loftus-Cheek are also sidelined ahead of the upcoming trip to the Etihad Stadium.
The injury to Mendy comes at a time when speculation persists that he may not sign a new contract at Stamford Bridge.
Although he has two-and-a-half years remaining on his existing terms, the Champions League winner is said to have turned down a longer deal owing to losing his place as first choice since Potter's arrival. body check tags ::
