Thibaut Courtois Injury: Updates on Chelsea Star's Status and Return

Thibault Courtois missed Chelsea's match with Hull City with a minor muscle injury, but was able to return for the club's December 22 clash with Stoke City. 

Continue for updates.

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Courtois Starts vs. Stoke

Monday, Dec. 22

Chelsea confirmed that Thibaut Courtois is fit to play for the club vs. Stoke City:

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Courtois To Miss Match vs. Hull City

Friday, Dec. 12

Chelsea will be without Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois when the Premier League leaders play host to Hull City on Saturday.

Jonathan Pearce of BBC Sport reports a "minor muscular injury" will force the 22-year-old on to the sidelines, handing veteran stopper Petr Cech his first league start of the season.

Blues boss Jose Mourinho provided confirmation during his pre-match press conference:

Scott Heppell/Associated Press

Courtois has developed into a key player since returning from his three-year loan spell with Atletico Madrid. The intelligent goalkeeper continues to keep Cech out of the team and looks set to have won the expected battle of rotation.

Cech is a more-than-capable replacement, however, and he still ranks among the best goalkeepers in the division.