Chelsea have been dealt a huge blow with the news that Thibaut Courtois will return to Stamford Bridge early with an injury.
Kristof Terreur reports that a hamstring injury means that Courtois will return to Cobham to continue his recovery, missing Belgium’s friendly against Saudi Arabia on Tuesday.
Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet is reportedly set to replace Courtois in the starting line-up.
The news is an untimely blow for Chelsea with top-four rivals Tottenham travelling to Stamford Bridge next Sunday.
It is yet to be seen whether or not Courtois will be fit enough to face Spurs in what is a make-or-break clash for the Blues.
Antonio Conte’s men are currently five points behind fourth-placed Spurs with eight games left to play this season.
Doing the double over Spurs would cut the deficit to two points and boost the club’s chancing of finishing inside the top four and sealing Champions League qualification for next season.
