Chelsea boss Frank Lampard has admitted that Ben Chilwell could miss the rest of the season.
After losing the first six competitive matches since returning to the Chelsea dugout, Lampard managed to oversee a victory in Chelsea's away meeting with Bournemouth.
Conor Gallagher's opener was cancelled out by Matias Vina, but late efforts from Benoit Badiashile and Joao Felix guided Chelsea to a 3-1 win, ending their nine-game winless run in all competitions.
Although the Blues emerged victorious, it was not all good news for Lampard, as Chilwell was unable to come through the game unscathed.
The England international was forced off in the 75th minute after appearing to pick up an injury when he was running towards the byline.
Following the game, Lampard conceded that he was unsure whether the left-back would play again this season.
"[It was his] hamstring. We don't know [whether it is] serious," Lampard told reporters. "With a hamstring at this stage of the season, you'd clearly be worried [that he may miss] the remaining games."
The latest setback will frustrate Chilwell, whose Chelsea career has been hampered by injury issues, including a hamstring problem that kept him sidelined for over two months earlier this season.
Chilwell adds to Lampard's injury woes, with the Chelsea boss already unable to call upon Reece James, Kalidou Koulibaly, Marc Cucurella, Mason Mount and Armando Broja.
Wesley Fofana was also absent from Saturday's matchday squad after feeling a strain when travelling down for the Premier League clash at the Vitality Stadium.
If Chilwell is unable to feature again this season, he will end the 2022-23 campaign with two goals and four assists in 31 competitive appearances.
Despite claiming their first win since March 11, Chelsea remain in 11th position with three points separating them from 10th-placed Fulham.
The Blues will be hoping to end their five-game winless home run in the league when they welcome Nottingham Forest to Stamford Bridge next weekend. body check tags ::
