Reece James requires a scan after re-injuring his hamstring and will miss the final game of the season, against Newcastle, at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
The 23-year-old missed last night’s chastening 4-1 defeat at Manchester United and has played fewer than 45 per cent of his possible minutes this season.
Mauricio Pochettino, who is expected to be named as Chelsea’s next manager, considers the England right-back key to his rebuild, but must resolve the defender’s reoccurring injury issues.
Interim boss Frank Lampard said last night: “He came out [to train] yesterday but went back in, because he had a little bit of awareness [of the injury]. We hope the scan will show there’s no real damage.”
Mason Mount’s hopes of featuring on Sunday, in what could be his final game for the club, are “really tight”, according to Lampard. Mount is one of nine players out, leaving the overhaul of the medical department by Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital under renewed scrutiny.
More than 50 per cent of the department was replaced during a review. Lampard said: “We have a lot of people out but I haven’t been here long enough to talk about the medical situation.”
Chelsea were blown away last night through goals from Casemiro, Anthony Martial, Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford, with Joao Felix’s 89th-minute consolation just their 37th goal in 37 League games.
