CHELSEA have been dealt an injury blow after Ben Chilwell limped off with a back injury in England’s loss to Belgium.
Chilwell was replaced by Bukayo Saka after 38 minutes of the Nations League clash with a suspected back injury.
The former Leicester full-back missed the start of Chelsea’s season with a foot injury but has been a mainstay in Frank Lampard’s first XI since his return to fitness.
Injury and self-isolation kept him out of England’s previous Nations League fixtures.
The match against Belgium was Chilwell’s first cap in almost a year.
The injury is another setback for Chilwell after a promising start to his Blues career.
Chilwell has played a key part in a Chelsea backline which kept five clean sheets in a row before their 4-1 win over Sheffield United before the international break.
The 23-year-old is now a doubt for Chelsea’s trip to Newcastle on Saturday.
Chilwell was on the pitch for both of Belgium’s goals against Gareth Southgate’s side, as England fell two goals behind within the first 30 minutes.
Chilwell’s former Leicester teammate Youri Tielemans gave Roberto Martinez’s side a 10th minute lead with a deflected effort from outside the box.
Dries Mertens then doubled Belgium’s advantage from a free-kick.
The result means England are now unable to qualify for next year’s Nations League finals.
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