Chelsea defender Wesley Fofana has withdrawn from France’s squad for their Nations League fixtures against Israel and Italy.
The French Football Federation have confirmed that the 23-year-old is suffering from “knee pain.” While some supporters on X are concerned by Fofana’s latest injury setback, others believe it was the right decision to protect his fitness, enabling him to recover during the international break:
Bad news
— Grazedman (@abraham_ba96437) November 11, 2024
Gutted to hear that Wesley Fofana's withdrawn from the French national team due to knee inflammation! Hopefully, this break will give him the time he needs to fully recover and come back stronger for Chelsea. We've seen how solid he is in defense, and his absence will surely be…
— Tom Hamilton (@Tom210604) November 11, 2024
Tough break for Fofana, staying in London to recover
— WAQAS (@imwaqasdar) November 11, 2024
Hope it's won't take long to return to match week
— sürfRüsh (@surfrush20) November 11, 2024
Looks like the French national team's loss is London's gain for now. Hopefully, the break will help Fofana come back stronger. Take care of that knee, champ!
— THE KING 🏴☠️ (@goattweetz) November 11, 2024
Fofana has a chronic knee problem
Speaking about the centre-back’s fitness back in October, head coach Enzo Maresca confirmed that the player is having to manage an ongoing issue:
“I really love Wes because it’s not easy after more than one year out to come back and be a fighter in the way he is. Now he is also fighting with the pain. When you have that kind of injury, you’re going to feel pain for the rest of your career. Unfortunately, it’s like this. He finished well. He looks okay.”
Chelsea only have two other players on the treatment table
Unlike some of their rivals, injuries haven’t really been a concern for the Blues so far this season. In addition to Fofana, Jadon Sancho and Omari Kellyman are the only other absentees at the moment.
Sancho has missed the last three games due to illness while Kellyman is expected to return from a hamstring injury at the start of December.
Find out who is in Chelsea’s first-team squad for the 2024/2025 season here
