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Chelsea handed major injury blow for Champions League clash

Mason Mount - Chelsea
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The reigning champions will resume their Champions League title defense next week.

Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount is a major doubt for the first leg of the club’s Champions League last-16 tie against Lille next Tuesday.

The 23-year-old suffered an ankle injury after an opponent fell on him during the 2-1 Club World Cup final victory against Palmeiras at the weekend. Christian Pulisic replaced him in the 31st-minute of the final. He later left the stadium on crutches.

According to The Athletic, Mount is now expected to miss at least two weeks of action. This would rule him out of the Lille match next Tuesday. The England international also faces a race against time to be ready for the EFL Cup final against Liverpool on February 27 at Wembley.

The sole bit of consolation for Chelsea is that Mount’s ankle injury isn’t as bad as first feared – especially compared to the one that kept Romelu Lukaku out for a month in October.

In the meantime, Thomas Tuchel’s side are preparing to face Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park this Saturday for a Premier League match.

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