CHELSEA will be without wonderkid Estevao Willian for the trip to Newcastle on Sunday.
The Brazilian winger, 18, was expected to feature in Chelsea‘s Carabao Cup quarter-final against Cardiff but was left at home due to a muscle injury.
Boss Enzo Maresca confirmed that he will miss Saturday’s trip to Newcastle.
Maresca was also unable to provide a return date for the summer signing, with Chelsea facing three games in ten days over the festive period.
Speaking after the win over Cardiff, Maresca said: “He had a small problem, a muscle problem.
“He won’t be available for Newcastle.”
Chelsea have had to deal with a number of high-profile injuries already this season.
They have played the majority of the campaign without Cole Palmer, who Maresca often describes as their best player.
Palmer has been suffering from a groin injury which he is still managing and was not named in the squad to face Cardiff.
Levi Colwill, Maresca’s first choice central defender, ruptured his ACL on the first day of a truncated pre-season following the Club World Cup.
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Summer signing Liam Delap has been reduced to just six starts so far this season having dealt with injuries.
Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez and Joao Pedro have all also been playing through the pain with respective muscle issues as Chelsea battle to deal with the consequences of their intense summer.
While Estevao was not at the Club World Cup with Chelsea, he did feature in the tournament for his former club Palmeiras.
Estevao has been a huge hit at Stamford Bridge so far this season, with five goals and one assist since joining the club.
