Football

Mateo Kovacic: Chelsea star withdrawn from Croatian squad over injury issues

Tuesday, September 03, 2019 at 12:42 PM by Oluwatomiwa Babalola

- Mateo Kovacic becomes latest Chelsea player to be hit with Achilles tendon injury

- The latest development has forced the midfielder out of Croatia's Euro 2020 qualifiers against Hungary and Slovakia

- Hudson-Odoi, Pedro, Kante are among the six Blues stars currently unavailable for their countries during international break

Croatian midfielder Mateo Kovacic has been added to the growing list of injured Chelsea players after reportedly suffering Achilles tendon injury in his side's draw against Sheffield United.

The 25-year-old midfielder has also been excluded from his national team's Euro 2020 qualifiers against Hungary and Slovakia due to the latest development.

Reports from the Stamford Bridge claims the player is currently being diagnosed by the club's medical team and he is likely to miss their trip to the Molineux Stadium for Wolves clash on September 14.

The Croat sealed a permanent deal with the Blues this summer in a deal about £40 million after initially spending the 2018-19 season on loan at the club.

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He has featured in all four Premier League appearances for the west London club this season with the Blues sitting in the 11th position on the log. Meanwhile, his absence is expected to be felt.

Ruben Loftus-Cheek is currently out with Achilles problem since May, same as Callum Hudson-Odoi, who has not featured for the Blues this season.

And the publication report that neither player could recover well in time for the club's next meeting next weekend.

FIFA World Cup winning star N'golo Kante has been out of action for Chelsea and will not be a part of French team squad to face Albania and Andorra in the Euro 2020 qualifier.

Also, Marco van Ginkel is much farther away from playing due to a long-term ACL issue, while is plagued with the hamstring he picked up in the warm-up to the win over Norwich City.

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Chelsea fans have however reacted to the recent injury on the Croatian side, saying: "From Hudson-Odoi to Loftus-cheek to Rudiger to Kante to Reece James and now Kovacic? Is this a football club or a healthcare centre, we honestly can't catch a break with these injuries."

Kabiru added: "Honestly, the board should look at the fitness team. Why the Achilles all the time?" Jake commented: "I beg that the injury isn't serious."

Legit.ng earlier reported that Chelsea boss Frank Lampard is hoping France head coach Didier Deschamps can leave N'golo Kante out of the team that will battle Andorra and Albania in the 2020 Euro qualifiers next month.

The Frenchman was not part of the Blues team that beat Norwich City 3-2 at Carrow Road in Lampard's first win in charge of the club after replacing Maurizio Sarri this summer.