Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso has confirmed that defender Jorrel Hato will be sidelined for several weeks with a back injury.
The Blues have had a stop-start campaign in the Premier League, and they are currently fourth in the standings with 16 points.
The club are already eight points behind league leaders Arsenal and seem unlikely to compete for the title this campaign too.
Still, they need to be consistent to push for Champions League football and face a stern challenge at Sunderland this weekend.
Ahead of the game, Alonso has revealed that Hato is out with a back concern and it may take several weeks for him to return.
He said on the 20-year-old’s absence: “He is not fit yet. It will take some more weeks.”
While Hato has been ruled out of the game, goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez looks poised to return, wearing a face mask on Wearside.
The Argentine has missed the last few matches with a jaw fracture, but he has been deemed fit to make his return against Sunderland.
