World Cup sweat for Chalobah
NATHANIEL CHALOBAH is facing a race against time to be fit for the World Cup.
The Watford star’s fractured knee-cap could keep him out until March, a setback for England boss Gareth Southgate who had drafted him into the squad.
Former Chelsea midfielder Chalobah had even been earmarked to play in Lithuania on October 8, with Southgate ready to experiment if England clinch their World Cup place three days earlier against Slovenia.
Southgate is desperately short of midfield options, especially in the anchorman role, which is why he was looking to fasttrack Chalobah.
The Three Lions boss is already sweating on the availability of Dele Alli, with the Tottenham midfielder potentially facing a fourgame ban – ruling him out of the first two games of the World Cup – after his one-fingered gesture during the 2-1 win over Slovakia earlier this month.
Southgate is planning to experiment on Lithuania’s plastic pitch. That could see Stoke keeper Jack Butland, Tottenham’s Kieran Trippier, and Everton defender Michael Keane all getting their chances.