Chelsea injury return schedule: Courtois and Falcao close to comeback
Chelsea’s season just keeps getting worse and worse. The win over Dynamo Kyiv last Wednesday provided some respite, but they were straight back down to earth again on Saturday, their 1-0 defeat at Stoke their seventh loss in 12 Premier League games this season.
There were a few signs of improvement in the Blues’ overall performance, and they were ultimately unlucky not to get something out the game. However, it will do little to lift the pressure on Jose Mourinho, who wasn’t even at the Britannia on Saturday, instead serving a one-game stadium ban.
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If Chelsea were unlucky on Saturday though, they haven’t really been unlucky with injuries this campaign. Of late, Thibaut Courtois and Branislav Ivanovic are the only regular starters ruled out of action, and they are perhaps better off without the latter at present.
Here is a list of their current injuries…
Branislav Ivanovic (hamstring)
Ivanovic has won 38% of his tackles in the Premier League this season.
Ivanovic picked up a hamstring injury for Serbia, during the 3-0 defeat to Albania on October 8, and he hasn’t played for Chelsea since.
Forecast return date: Available again
Ivanovic actually returned to training last week for the Blues before the games against Dynamo Kyiv and Stoke (per the Independent), but Mourinho chose not to rush him back into first team action, leaving him out of the final 18 on both occasions.
Impact rating: 4/10
Chelsea haven’t exactly faired any better in the four games that Ivanovic has missed in the Premier League — losing three and winning just one — but the Serbia international was having no positive impact on the team before his injury, looking a shadow of his former self from last season. Given how poor he was, Cesar Azpilicueta might even stay at right back, with Baba Rahman filling in on the left.
Radamel Falcao (Muscular injury)
Falcao has scored one Premier League goal for Chelsea
Falcao came off the bench for Chelsea in the recent 3-1 defeat to Liverpool, but suffered a muscular injury in training days later, and the forward will be out for the immediate future.
Forecast return date: December
Speaking before the Dynamo Kyiv game, Mourinho told reporters ”Falcao had today an important injury.”
“Not so important like the one he had previously. But he will be out for a few weeks. There is not point speaking about him. Just giving you the sad news.” (per the Independent).
Eight of Falcao’s nine Premier League appearances for Chelsea have come from the bench.
Impact rating: 2/10
Falcao has suffered worse injuries than this, most notably sustaining anterior cruciate ligament damage for Monaco, which kept him out of the 2014 World Cup.
That injury seemed to have a devastating effect on his career, and he looked like a man completely incapable of reaching his previous heights at Manchester United, and the script has been the same since he joined Chelsea in the summer, where he can usually be found on the bench, when not in the treatment room.
Diego Costa and Loic Remy are both far better options than the Colombian.
Thibaut Courtois (Meniscus tear in knee)
Courtois has played three Premier League games this season.
Unlike Ivanovic, Courtois did not pick up his injury on international duty. He returned unscathed from Belgium’s games in September, but then tore the meniscus in his knee in training (per the Guardian).
Forecast return date: December
Speaking in October, Courtois said he was hoping to return in December: ”In terms of my knee, it is good. I am doing my rehabilitation and it is progressing fine,”
”I will be (now) starting the bulk of the work with my physio to come back as soon as possible.
“Of course I still have to be careful not to go too quickly, but all being well, I should be back in December.” (per Sky Sports).
Courtois made an average of 2.10 saves per goal in the league last season.
Impact rating: 8/10
Given Chelsea’s myriad of problems at the back, it would be patently untrue to say that none of this would have happened with Courtois in goal. In the three games he did play in the league this season, the Blues conceded seven, and he was sent off in the first match.
His replacement Asmir Begovic — signed in the summer from Stoke — can hardly be blamed either, and he has actually been fairly consistent during a period of baffling defensive ineptitude.
However, Courtois is still the better keeper, and he also has a longer-standing relationship with many of Chelsea’s key defenders. He played 32 league games last campaign and kept 12 clean sheets, as Chelsea won the title.
Related Teams: Chelsea