Chelsea Football Club has been dealt another injury blow, as confirmed by an official statement. The Blues are already grappling with the absence of key players like Cole Palmer, Levi Colwill, Liam Delap and Romeo Lavia early in the season. Now, midfielder Dario Essugo is the latest to join this list.
Dario Essugo picked up a knock while training with Portugal’s Under-21s team. The young midfielder, who is seen as Chelsea’s understudy to Moises Caicedo, experienced a “muscle problem in his right thigh,” according to a statement from the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF). This unfortunate incident puts him in doubt for Saturday’s upcoming west London derby away at Brentford.
Essugo transferred to Chelsea from Sporting for an £18.5million fee in June 2021 and was expected to be joined at Stamford Bridge next summer by former team-mate Geovany Quenda.
Portuguese FA released statement:
“The Chelsea midfielder was excused from training due to a muscle problem in his right thigh, which he suffered after training. The athlete was evaluated by the Portuguese Football Federation’s Health and Performance Department and was declared unavailable.”
Impact on Chelsea
This new setback adds more pressure on Chelsea who have already lost Levi Colwill for most of this season due to an anterior cruciate ligament tear. Additionally, Cole Palmer is currently sidelined with a groin issue along with Liam Delap, Romeo Lavia and Benoit Badiashile also being out of action.
Essugo has yet made his first start since becoming a part of the Blues' squad. His three appearances so far have all been as substitutes during matches against LAFC, ES Tunis and Palmeiras at the Club World Cup in the summer. Despite being named on the bench by Enzo Maresca in all three Premier League games this season, he is yet to come on.
The injury to Dario Essugo is a fresh blow for Chelsea who are already dealing with multiple injuries early in the season. The team will need to adapt quickly and find ways to fill these gaps as they navigate through their upcoming matches. This situation also presents an opportunity for other players to step up and make their mark during this challenging period.
