Chelsea Hit Maribor for 6, but Injury Problems Are Mounting Up Front

LONDON — A 6-0 scoreline against Champions League minnows Maribor on Tuesday only told half the story for Chelsea.

Loic Remy, Didier Drogba, John Terry and Eden Hazard were all on the scoresheet to help the Blues maintain their impressive start to the campaign, ensuring they are flying high in Europe as well as in the Premier League.

That's 10 wins in their opening 12 matches, but while the goals were flowing, it came at a cost. Remy limped off injured after just 16 minutes.

This means manager Jose Mourinho must be looking ahead to this weekend’s trip to Old Trafford—where Chelsea will face Manchester United—with an air of trepidation.

Louis van Gaal's side have struggled defensively this term and Chelsea would have been expected to take advantage of their frailties, yet it’s going to prove difficult without any strikers.

Diego Costa was missing from action for the second game running, as his troublesome hamstring continues to leave him sidelined. Now Remy has been added to a growing injury list.

It's a massive concern, despite Mourinho trying to play it cool in the post-match press conference.

Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

"It’s a muscular injury, I don’t know the dimension and I am not worried," said the Chelsea manager. "When a player is injured, play another one. No problem.

"No, I don’t expect [Remy] to be fit to face United. Normally a muscular problem is a couple of weeks."

Remy started the Maribor rout with a wonderful strike after 13 minutes, although his joy was short-lived.

In the process of unleashing an unstoppable effort from the edge of the box, the Frenchman injured his groin and was soon replaced by Drogba.

Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

The 36-year-old becomes Chelsea’s only established striker who is fit right now, leaving youngster Dominic Solanke as back-up in the likely event that Remy does not recover in time for the trip north.

A fortnight ago, everything was running smoothly for Mourinho's side. Arsenal had just been dispatched 2-1, with Costa scoring his ninth goal in seven Premier League matches. Other than Ramires, his squad had a clean bill of health.

Then came the international break, and on the back of that, suddenly Mourinho is being forced to call up his academy stars.

Aside from Costa, John Obi Mikel, Andre Schurrle and Ramires all missed out due to injury or illness against Maribor.

The change in fortunes has been dramatic. From looking imperious, the Blues could be relying on a veteran and youth prospect with just 20 minutes of first-team football to his name.

Seeing Solanke make his debut on Tuesday evening would have been a proud moment for everyone connected with Chelsea.

For so long, the club has craved the production of players equipped to make a name for themselves at Stamford Bridge, and now it seems Chelsea have them in abundance—with Solanke one of many in and around the first-team squad.

Nathan Ake also made his Champions League debut as a substitute against Maribor, showing that the investment in youth is paying off in west London.

Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

Solanke’s debut could have come under better circumstances, though.

Prolific in the youth ranks, he’s a kid who has everything to make it at the top. Bridging that gap from promising 17-year-old to first-team regular is where the challenge lies for Chelsea, and right now, it's too much to expect him to play a big role in the short term.

As inexperienced and shoddy as United's defence has appeared under Van Gaal, playing at Old Trafford is a different game entirely from the under-21 league, where Solanke is honing his craft for Chelsea.

Hazard enjoyed another excellent display on Tuesday, as did Oscar and Willian. With Schurrle to come back and Mohamed Salah available, Mourinho does have options in attacking midfield that will give Untied every reason to feel uneasy.

It's only momentary solace, though. Much like he did last season, Mourinho needs a striker to lead the line. Recovering from injury himself, question marks remain over Drogba's ability to do that in the way he once did.

Will Mourinho turn to Schurrle once more? The German grafted at Old Trafford last term, but the result was hardly encouraging.

Over the coming days, there are big decisions to be made by Mourinho and his staff.

The joy of six, six of the best—call the Maribor win what you will. With the injuries mounting up front, the comedown from this victory is going to hit hard.

Vote for Garry Hayes as the best established football writer in the 2014 Football Blogging Awards: http://bit.ly/VoteGDH

Garry Hayes is Bleacher Report's lead Chelsea correspondent. All quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow him on Twitter @garryhayes.