Jamie Gittens has suffered another injury, his latest in a long line of unfortunate setbacks.
The 21-year-old has been out of action since the start of the year after he suffered a hamstring injury during Chelsea's 3-2 Premier League win over West Ham.
The young winger was expected to return after the most recent international break and was primed to feature in Chelsea's FA Cup quarter final against Port Vale on Saturday. He failed to make Liam Rosenior's final matchday squad after picking up another injury, though.
Liam Rosenior confirms Jamie Gittens is injured again
After many fans were wondering why Gittens was not included — not even on the bench — against Port Vale, Rosenior confirmed to Chelsea's media after his side's resounding 7-0 quarter final victory that the 21-year-old had suffered another injury to his hamstring just the day before.
"Unfortunately, Jamie, in training yesterday, picked up what looks like a hamstring injury again.
We have to scan him and make sure. It's a real shame for him; I think it's the third time it's happened.
We need to help him and we need to make sure he's okay. I can't give you a time frame on that at the moment."
As the Chelsea head coach was unable to give an approximate timeframe on Gittens' return, it remains to be seen how long this latest setback will keep him sidelined for but some may fear the youngster may not play again until next season.
Gittens' injury record becoming a huge cause for concern
Gittens has now missed as many matches as he has played in the league. A brutal run of bad luck for a player who was hoping his move to Stamford Bridge from Borussia Dortmund would take his career to the next level.
Prior to joining the Blues, the worse injury Gittens suffered at Dortmund was a shoulder injury in 2022, and that kept him out for 17 games.
Remarkably, despite being at Chelsea for just nine months, after suffering multiple hamstring injuries, a knock to his shoulder and periods of illness, the Englishman is already close to matching that record.
When fit and available, Gittens has offered a Chelsea a different sort of option on the left flank. The London-born wide-attacker may have only found the back of the net once this season, but his directness and willingness to move the ball quicker is something the Blues have definitely been missing in recent weeks.