Cesc Fabregas Injury: Updates on Chelsea Star's Hamstring and Return

Cesc Fabregas is facing a fight for full fitness following Chelsea's win over Liverpool after Jose Mourinho predicted a spell on the sidelines for the Spanish midfielder to nurse a hamstring injury.

Continue for updates.

Friday, Nov. 21

Fabregas On Course to Face West Brom

Fabregas' injury enforced absence from the Spain squad appears to have worked well for Chelsea, who are expected to have the midfielder available for Saturday's clash with West Brom, per Oliver Todd of the Mail Online:

"

It was initially feared the Spanish midfielder would miss three weeks of action with a minor thigh tear that ruled him out of his country’s games against Belarus and Germany during the international break.

But Fabregas trained on Thursday at Chelsea’s Cobham training base and looks likely to feature for the league leaders at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, returning to the side a week ahead of schedule.

"

Chelsea's official Twitter offered an update from Jose Mourinho:

Friday Nov. 14

Chelsea Expect Fabregas Return

In news that is likely to anger Spain, Matt Barlow of the Mail Online reports Fabregas will be fit for Chelsea's next outing against West Brom on Nov. 22:

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Fabregas returned to London and will miss Spain's games against Belarus and Germany after reporting discomfort in his hamstring muscles but is expected to fit to face West Bromwich Albion on Saturday week.

No tears of muscle damage was evident on his scans and Chelsea's medical team believe a few days' rest and treatment will solve the problem.

"

Thursday, Nov. 13

Fabregas Injury Called into Question

Spain boss Vicente del Bosque has questioned the legitimacy of Fabregas' injury, after the national side's doctors found little wrong with the Chelsea man. Darren Lewis of the Daily Mirror quotes Del Bosque saying:

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His muscle seems all right but he complains and he is the best doctor. I prefer to be deceived but I cannot be distrustful.

When a player of his calibre tells you that he is injured, you have to believe him.

"

Tuesday, Nov. 11

Fabregas Sent Home by Spain, Replacement Announced

As expected, Cesc Fabregas has been officially ruled out of Spain's forthcoming international matches against Belarus and Germany. David Cartlidge of the Mirror provides the latest, with European Qualifiers confirming Fabregas' replacement:

Monday, Nov. 10

Spain Force Fabregas Attendance

Spain have asked Fabregas to fly to Madrid so that their doctors can assess his injury, following Mourinho's revelation that the Chelsea player will likely miss the Blues' next game against West Brom on Nov. 22.

Joaquin Marota of AS reports:

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The player is already ruled out (for Spain), though it won’t be official until medics from the international set-up, Doctors Cota and Celeda, verify the situation.

Cesc has a thigh muscle tear and will be out for three weeks, as tests in London have already showed. Chelsea and the player himself have informed the Spanish Federation, but after the controversy over Diego Costa, who was ruled out, only to play on Saturday for Chelsea against Liverpool, Del Bosque wants Cesc to travel to Madrid for the diagnosis to be confirmed.

"

Saturday, Nov. 8

Fabregas Hamstring Injury Revealed

Chelsea's stellar start to the 2014-15 season has taken a hit after it came to light that Cesc Fabregas has picked up a hamstring injury. 

Manager Jose Mourinho says the Spaniard was already hurt when he played him against Liverpool on Saturday, according to Chelsea's official Twitter feed:

To make matters worse, Mourinho noted that the midfielder's status is in doubt for the team's next match, according to Squawka:

The comments also cast Fabregas' status into doubt for Spain, as La Roja have a pair of matches in the coming week, prior to Chelsea's next match.

Fabregas completed a £30 million move back to the Premier League earlier this summer and has since been in firing form for the west Londoners.

In his first 11 league appearances for the Blues, the Spaniard created 32 scoring chances, and added a goal as well, per Squawka.

OptaJoe compares that ratio to last season's most inspired Chelsea playmakers, while Opta's Orbinho gives a more historical comparison of how Fabregas weighs up against past Premier League greats:

Clearly enjoying life back in the English capital, Fabregas has since cemented his place as one of Jose Mourinho's centrepieces.

Fabregas may not be providing those goals in Chelsea's next contest, it seems, and his loss will certainly be felt. The bigger blow may come for Spain, who face a pair of matches in which the injured midfielder was likely to star, although his status for those games is still up in the air. 

With their prime puppeteer out of the picture for now, Mourinho will be looking to the likes of Oscar, Eden Hazard, Willian and others to fill the creative void, depending on how the manager's tactical priorities are affected.