Chelsea handed new injury blow as Wesley Fofana withdraws from France squad

Chelsea defender Wesley Fofana has withdrawn from the France squad with a hamstring injury.

Blues boss Graham Potter expressed concern over Fofana’s fitness following Chelsea’s 2-2 draw with Everton on Saturday, though initially diagnosed the centre-back with “fatigue”.

Further tests on Sunday confirmed that Fofana had suffered a minor muscle problem.

The 22-year-old will now miss a chance to make his senior debut for France, who face Netherlands and Ireland in Euro 2024 qualifiers.

Les Bleus also saw Arsenal defender William Saliba withdraw, and have called up both Monaco’s Axel Disasi and Nice’s Jean-Clair Todibo as replacements.

Fofana’s Chelsea team-mate Benoit Badiashile is with the Under-21s squad.

Fofana is now in a race to return after the international break, when Chelsea will face a Aston Villa side who are just one place below them in the Premier League table.

Thiago Silva also remains injured but is expected to return in April, while captain Cesar Azpilicueta has been sidelined with the aftereffects of a concussion. Their absence could open the door for Trevoh Chalobah to start.