Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has revealed that goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois will require surgery on his right knee and will be ruled out for a long time.
The Belgium international will be assessed by the club's medical director to understand for how long he will be on the sidelines.
The Blues sold reserve goalkeeper Petr Cech to Arsenal in the summer with Asmir Begovic signing from Stoke City to take over from the Czech.
"Courtois was injured in a training session with the goalkeepers," Mourinho told reporters on Friday afternoon.
"I cannot tell you much but I can tell you he needs surgery in his right knee and as a consequence he will be out for quite a long time. I cannot be more specific about the injury and about the time he will be out, but I know he will be out for some time.
"I am waiting for Dr Biosca [the club's medical director] to be more specific after surgery. I think today we will be ready to give some more information.
"It's a big blow but you will not see me speaking next week about Thibaut because I never do about an injured player.
"It's not easy to have the best goalkeeper in the world injured but it's easy to have one of the best goalkeepers in the world to play, and we have Begovic to play and he's very, very good.
"I'm very sad for Thibaut and for the team but we have a top goalkeeper and Begovic will be in goal."
