Benoit Badiashile set to miss four months of action due to groin injury

The French defender will miss the opening games of next season

Chelsea encountered an early disappointment, with defender Benoit Badiashile being forced to miss the beginning of the new season due to a groyne injury.

Badiashile was injured in training last week and missed yesterday's 1-0 loss to Manchester City. He was scheduled to have surgery today, which might keep him out for up to four months.

Losing Badiashile at the outset of his Chelsea rebuild is a setback for Pochettino, who is nearing the end of his contract and sees pre-season as a critical period to install his techniques and philosophy on the club.

Following his £35 million January transfer from Monaco, Badiashile has made an excellent start to his Chelsea tenure and has set his sights on a key part in the team next season.

Chelsea dropped the 22-year-old France international out of their Champions League squad, placing him above Trevoh Chalobah and Wesley Fofana as interim manager Frank Lampard favoured players who could play in Europe.

However, Badiashile has impressed in his limited appearances and is regarded as an important player in the future.

Badiashile's absence could provide a chance for Levi Colwill, who will be coming back to Chelsea after this season after an excellent loan stint at Brighton this season.

Pochettino is said to have been pleased by Colwill, a left-footed centre-back who is set to strive for an England call-up the following season.

It was unclear whether Badiashile and Colwill might remain in the Chelsea squad without European competition next year.

Chelsea will attempt to solve their injury concerns this campaign, as Badiashile joins Mason Mount, Reece James, N'Golo Kante, Mateo Kovacic, and Ben Chilwell on the injured list.

Considering a massive change of backroom staff by the current owners Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital, players have questions about the quality of the medical staff.