Chelsea defender Wesley Fofana has been handed a fresh injury scare less than a week out from the Premier League's return.
Kai Havertz netted a hat-trick as Chelsea beat Brentford 5-1 in a behind-closed-doors friendly on Tuesday, but the feat was overshadowed by Fofana limping off with a knee problem.
The Blues will quickly assess the centre-half and find out the severity of the injury on Wednesday.
Fofana, who joined Chelsea for Β£70million from Leicester in the summer, has not played since damaging his knee against AC Milan in October.
As a dozen of his team-mates travelled to Qatar for the World Cup, the defender stayed behind to rehabilitate and build up fitness ahead of the Premier League's restart on December 26.
Chelsea were handed a major injury blow earlier this month in a mid-World Cup friendly against Aston Villa, as Armando Broja tore his anterior cruciate ligament and was thus ruled out for the remainder of the season.
In more positive news, Reece James, who missed England's World Cup campaign because of a knee injury, featured for an hour in the warm-up match against Brentford, which was unconventionally played over three 45-minute periods.
Havertz, who scored twice off the bench in Germany's final match at the World Cup, kept up his purple patch in front of goal with a well-taken hat-trick to add pressure on to misfiring first-choice striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Chelsea's first Premier League match after the restart comes against Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge on December 27.
Rennisky
1
Wrong signing
Yaubimptz
1
fofana will disappoint you even if you expect nothing from him ππ
dagreat27
0
the boy is injury prone
fiudkopst
0
Wesley Fofana, all he know of is to get involved in those reckless tackles and pushing to get injured and paid for doing nothing at the club
Gideonice
1
Fake
fourthorty430
1
Awwwwww
fourthorty430
0
aah aah
Andy_Mac
1
Let's applaud the Chelsea management for showing a great deal of intelligence and foresight in the summer transfer window. Spending big money on Wesley Fofana was a masterstroke especially considering that he had only just recovered from a long term injury.
SamiCamironezi
0
Maguire Jr hope you will rest for like 10 weeks time for us to rescue some points before you come and sell them back
caskloruy
0
i dont understand π how a normal human being can sign fofana for such a huge amount of money for an injury prone player π€
which Hazard my friend stop all this nonsense, how can you mentioned Hazard who have already finished his career and a young boy who has not even started
Reno08
0
Well I guess another costly mistake
tosdeimnou
2
Chelsea fitness coach is useless
Don Zayo
0
i dont understand π how a normal human being can sign fofana for such a huge amount of money for an injury prone player π€
Hazard effect
jetdkotu
1
speedy recovery great star π
Richyrichcfc93765
1
Same thing that happened to Kante. Fofana, Chelsea bought you to come and play football, not the other way round. You better wake up from your slumber cuz we don't know what you're trying to do
Lihbemnp
5
Chelsea players are too soft, and lazy
Yaubimptz
0
i dont understand π how a normal human being can sign fofana for such a huge amount of money for an injury prone player π€
Wancou
0
Tis guy is injury prone, a mistake by chelsea
Noora
2
Good thing they have another Fofana ππ
mucbemorst
0
he should go back to where he came from
kugejr
5
Our Legend already
odebala1
5
Wesley fofana should be given a chance to recover very well and stop being in-hest of turning back immediately without feeling stronger. we've chalobah to call upon on 27th . quick recovery we wish you brother
Cuueikrtyz
3
He needed much time to recover why rushing him back to the pitch arenβt there other players to replace him?
Cuueikrtyz
3
His the Chelsea Dembele