KEPA ARRIZABALAGA has become the latest Premier League star to fall foul of the World Cup injury curse.
The Chelsea and Spain keeper will not play again before the tournament later this month due to a foot problem.
Chelsea boss Graham Potter confirmed the grim news for the £71.6million Spaniard, who had only just worked his way back into contention after a year in the international wilderness.
Potter said: "It’s his plantar fascia, the bottom of his foot. I don’t think he’ll play before the World Cup."
Kepa joins English club mates Reece James and Ben Chilwell in the treatment room, with more Premier League stars getting injured due to the congested fixture list accommodating the rescheduled World Cup.
Chilwell is braced for bad news after suffering a suspected torn hamstring in Wednesday's Champions League win over Dinamo Zagreb.
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Potter said: "He’s going to go for a scan later on this afternoon so we’ll find out how he is then, update tomorrow.
"He feels okay but obviously aware of the injury. We need to let the swelling settle down, hence the delay with the scan. But we’ll know more after that.”
“I wouldn’t say we fear the worst. It’s just we all saw the nature of the injury. I can’t say it looks positive. But until we get the scan, it’s difficult to say.
"He’s okay, but I suppose until you get the diagnosis. At the moment we’re just hopeful and fingers crossed. From there we’ll get him back fit and strong. It’s disappointing, of course.”
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The injuries are leaving Potter light on options at the back.
He now has just two full-backs in Cesar Azpilicueta and Marc Cucurella.
And Marcus Bettinelli will now play second fiddle to Edouard Mendy in goal.
Wesley Fofana remains out with an injury until the new year.
Meanwhile, Kalidou Koulibaly also recently returned from the sidelines and was subbed off in Wednesday's win over Dinamo Zagreb.
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