Injury expert: ‘Surgery’ on the cards for Chilwell at Chelsea after ACL update
Ben Chilwell is progressing well at Chelsea but surgery is still a possibility as he recovers from his serious knee injury.
That is the view of injury expert Ben Dinnery, who runs the Premier Injuries site and has a background in medicine and data analysis.
Chilwell, 24, has been out of action for Thomas Tuchel’s side since 23 November after suffering a partial anterior cruciate ligament tear.
Per Chelsea’s media team on Wednesday (15 December), Tuchel revealed the left-back is in a “good place” and the hope is that he will not require surgery.
The manager also revealed Chilwell has begun some light fitness work at Cobham for the first time since his ACL blow.
Dinnery claims that, while early signs are good for the defender, surgical intervention cannot yet be ruled out.
“He is on track and it’s a positive sign that he is out there doing light work,” he told Football Insider‘s Adam Williams.
“But we can’t necessarily read too much into that. We would need to see some functional work as well.
“This has always been the target, to see how he progresses. If all goes well, we could be looking at early 2022, maybe January.
“If the knee responds favourably, they’ll take a step up. They’ll incorporate some twisting and turning and some explosive movements.
“Treating this type of injury, it will respond well to conservative treatment. That was the plan ever since he first went for imaging.
“However, there are still no guarantees in terms of the decision on whether to go down the surgery route.”
Marcos Alonso has featured on the left of Chelse’s five-man defence in Chilwell’s absence.
The Spaniard started last night (16 December) as the Blues drew 1-1 with Everton at Stanford Bridge.
In other news, furious Antonio Rudiger wants to quit Chelsea fter being “offered less than Mason Mount”.