Chelsea manager Guus Hiddink is worried about a lack of defensive options for the club’s pursuit of silverware after Kurt Zouma was ruled out for the rest of the season with a knee injury.
It is understood that new £3.5m signing Matt Miazga is unlikely to be risked to even sit on the bench for the time being despite Chelsea being short of numbers.
Miazga joined from New York Red Bulls last month, but is short of match fitness having not played since November.
Hiddink wants to be patient with the 20-year-old, who is still raw and faces the difficult step up from the MLS to the Premier League.
It means Hiddink currently just has captain John Terry and Gary Cahill to start at centre-half, while right-back Branislav Ivanovic can also be switched there if need be.
Chelsea have huge games coming up, with the first leg of the Champions League last 16 tie against Paris St Germain next Tuesday followed by the FA Cup fifth Round tie at home to Manchester City five days later.
It was confirmed last night that Zouma, who has become a regular in the first team, will be out for six months with the injury he suffered against Manchester United.
His absence means the club may also have to reconsider their summer transfer plans having already committed to buying one top class centre-half in the summer, with Everton’s John Stones and Marquinhos of Paris St Germain top of the wish-list.
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However, they are now debating whether to cut short the loan spell of Andreas Christensen to Borussia Moenchengladbach.
The 19-year-old, who signed a two-year loan agreement in the summer, has impressed in the Bundesliga this term and Borussia want on a permanent basis.
But Chelsea will reject all offers for the Dane and are debating whether to bring him back in the summer.
Meanwhile, Hiddink is relieved Chelsea are not playing until Newcastle on Sunday. “It’s vital to have a break,” he said.
