Antonio Rudiger will miss the rest of Chelsea’s season due to a knee injury.
The Germany defender underwent a successful operation in Italy on Tuesday, having limped out of the Blues’ 1-1 Premier League draw at Manchester United on Sunday.
Rudiger’s loss will prove a blow to Chelsea’s bid for both a top-four Premier League finish and Europa League glory.
The 26-year-old posted on Twitter: “What a pity I won’t be able to help my team during the last games of the season.”
“But my knee surgery went well and I’m already positive again. Thanks for all your messages and comments. And special thanks to the efforts of Professor Mariani and his team!”
Fourth-placed Chelsea sit two points ahead of Arsenal with two league games to play, with the London rivals going head-to-head for the final Champions League qualification berth.
The Blues will face Eintracht Frankfurt in Thursday’s Europa League semi-final first leg before hosting Watford on Sunday in their final home league game of the campaign. Maurizio Sarri’s men will take on Eintracht in the return leg at Stamford Bridge on Thursday week, before closing their domestic season with a trip to Leicester.
But now they must do so without key centre back Rudiger, with his absence likely to be covered by Andreas Christensen.
