Chelsea are expected to be without Maxence Lacroix for the rest of the year due to a hamstring tear.

The former Crystal Palace defender was replaced just before half-time during his side’s Carabao Cup clash with Liverpool on Wednesday.

While tracking the run of  Cody Gakpo, the France international sharply pulled up, immediately signalling to the bench.

Lacroix was not expected to be involved in this afternoon’s Premier League clash with Manchester United with Xabi Alonso also ruling him out of next week’s game against Sunderland, their final game before the November international break.

Speaking at a press conference on Friday, Alonso said: ‘Max picked up an injury and we expect he is not going to be ready before the international break. He will be a few weeks out.’

TalkSPORT now report Lacroix’s hamstring issue is a grade three tear, a severe injury that can take from eight to 12 weeks to heal.

The report suggests there is now real fear at Chelsea the defender will not be involved again until after Christmas and into the New Year.

That timeline would rule him out of 10 games in total, including key fixtures against Liverpool and Manchester City in December.

Lacroix has been a fixture in Xabi Alonso’s starting XI following his summer move from Crystal Palace, playing the full 90 minutes in seven of Chelsea’s eight Premier League games and racking up more minutes than anyone else in the squad.

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The centre-half also started every game of the club’s Carabao Cup campaign this term which came to an end on penalties on Wednesday night.

Chelsea are also without Joao Pedro who faces weeks out of the team as a result of the thigh injury he picked up last week. Reece James is also still recovering from minor knee surgery.