Chelsea midfielder Dario Essugo has undergone successful surgery on a thigh injury sustained while on international duty with Portugal’s Under-21s, the club confirmed on Tuesday.
The 20-year-old was forced to withdraw from training last week after feeling discomfort in his right thigh.
Following medical assessments from both the Portuguese Football Federation and Chelsea’s staff, it was determined that surgery was required.
Chelsea said in a statement: Midfielder Dario Essugo has undergone successful surgery today on his thigh. The 20-year-old sustained the injury whilst on international duty for Portugal’s Under-21s. Medical assessments confirmed surgery would be the required course of action and Dario will now begin his recovery at Cobham, supported by the club’s medical department.
Essugo’s recovery timeline has not yet been disclosed, but he is expected to be sidelined for a considerable period.
His absence adds to Chelsea’s growing list of injuries, which already includes forward Liam Delap, who is out with a hamstring problem sustained during the recent win over Fulham.
Delap’s lay-off is expected to last up to 10 weeks, with the striker aiming to resume training in November ahead of a possible return in the busy festive schedule.
The 21-year-old, who had been deputising up front after Nicolas Jackson’s loan to Bayern Munich, will miss a run of important domestic and European fixtures.
While Essugo has yet to feature since his £18.5m summer move, his injury leaves Enzo Maresca without a natural backup for Moisés Caicedo in midfield.
The player later shared a positive message on social media after surgery, posting a photo of himself smiling and writing:
Unfortunately, during this international break with the National Team, I felt something in my thigh that will keep me out for a while. It’s frustrating to start the season like this, especially after already facing another setback not long ago. But I truly believe everything happens for a reason. God has a bigger plan. I’ll be back stronger.
The double setback adds to Maresca’s early-season concerns, with a number of Chelsea players now unavailable.
Although Benoît Badiashile is close to returning, the manager’s pre-season warning that a congested calendar could lead to injuries is proving accurate, leaving his squad stretched across all competitions.
