Chelsea hold Romelu Lukaku injury ‘fear’ forcing Thomas Tuchel to change tactics

Chelsea v Malmo Match in Pictures

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Chelsea fear Romelu Lukaku won’t be available until the end of November after suffering an injury in Wednesday’s 4-0 win over Malmo. Lukaku started as Chelsea returned to winning ways in the Champions League at Stamford Bridge but was forced off after winning a penalty in the first half.

HLN report that the Blues’ medical staff are currently awaiting a definitive timeline on Lukaku’s condition.

However, they fear the 28-year-old could be sidelined for two to three weeks, and he’s touch-and-go for Belgium’s November fixtures.

After undergoing his first scan on Thursday, Lukaku requires an additional examination due to ‘significant’ swelling of his foot.

With the club’s record signing potentially ruled out for a month, Thomas Tuchel will have to switch up his tactics amid Chelsea’s Premier League title hunt.

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Tuchel is also without Timo Werner after the Germany international followed Lukaku in going off injured in the first half on Wednesday.

Therefore, he will have to revert to his method of success last season and utilise Kai Havertz as his sole striker.

But with Chelsea’s style now accustomed to servicing Lukaku as the central figure, they must switch things back up without a natural striker on the pitch.

After the Malmo game, Tuchel explained he didn’t regret starting Lukaku because he thought it was an ideal opportunity to return to form.

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But he revealed the Belgian striker would be absent for ‘some matches’ after twisting his ankle.

He said: “Romelu twisted his ankle when he was fouled in the box, and Timo [Werner] has a hamstring injury, so it will take a while for both of them.

“We need more examinations to be more precise, but they will be out for some matches.

“It was necessary that Romelu was on the pitch; he started very strong. I spoke with him about the situation that I think he carries a bit of mental fatigue around with him.

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“I think it’s also normal, but he’s our number nine, he’s our reference upfront, and the best thing against mental fatigue is a goal, and we knew that we could be the dominant team.

“I had a strong belief that he could in a Champions League match turn things around in terms of scoring and being decisive, which he actually did because he was super strong in our start, and he took the foul, so maybe without him, it’s not 2-0.

“I don’t regret it because it’s not a muscle injury and not from physical fatigue; he is more a little bit overplayed. That is just my opinion; maybe I’m not even right.

“It was the moment to give him confidence and let him play. I don’t regret it because he was decisive, and things like this can happen. It’s just bad luck.”

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