Chelsea star withdraws from France squad in fresh injury blow

The Blues’ injury problems have hit another stumbling block.

Chelsea defender Axel Disasi has withdrawn from the France squad.

Disasi is out after tests at Chelsea showed he has a tear in the quadriceps of his left thigh.

The French Football Federation (FFF) announced the 25-year-old’s withdrawal on Monday. Castello Lukeba, a center-back from RB Leipzig, has replaced him for the upcoming international games.

Lukeba will hope to win his first cap on Friday when France take on the Netherlands in a Euro 2024 qualifier. Didier Deschamps’ side head to Amsterdam up in first place in Group B, with 15 points from five games. They will then face Scotland in a friendly next Tuesday.

Disasi, on the other hand, will now focus on his recovery. The Frenchman has been a mainstay in the Chelsea defense since his €45 million summer arrival from AS Monaco. He has started in all 10 of the club’s games this season, including all eight Premier League fixtures.

He even scored on his Premier League debut for the Blues in the 1-1 opening day draw with Liverpool.

Disasi’s injury adds another blow to Chelsea’s backline, with Wesley Fofana and Trevoh Chalobah still in the recovery phase from injuries.

Full-back Ben Chilwell is also expected to remain sidelined until December due to a hamstring injury.

There is some positive news for Mauricio Pochettino’s squad though. Benoit Badiashile could return in time from a hamstring issue to face Arsenal on October 21. Captain Reece James may also be available after serving a suspension in Saturday’s 4-1 win at Burnley.

This would be a welcome boost for Chelsea, who have undergone a remarkable turnaround in form. The Blues struggled at the start of the season, but are now on a three-game winning streak. They currently rank 11th in the Premier League with 11 points from eight games.