Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic set to miss three weeks with hamstring injury

Branislav Ivanovic has suffered a hamstring tear

BRANSILAV IVANOVIC is expected to miss three weeks of action after tearing his hamstring on international duty.

 

The Chelsea right-back suffered the injury in Serbia's win over Albania on Thursday.

He returned to London over the weekend to begin treatment.

His absence is likely to give Baba Rahman the chance to impress.

The young left-back was signed from Augsburg in the summer for around £14million.

 

His only appearance so far has been in Chelsea's 4-0 win over Maccabi Tel Aviv in the Champions League.

But he looks set to come in for Aston Villa on Saturday with Cesar Azpilicueta moved to right-back.

Ivanovic's form has been heavily criticised this season after he was given a torrid time on the day of the season by Swansea winger Jefferson Montero.

But the 31-year-old has played in every Premier League game so far with Jose Mourinho keeping faith in him despite the constant rotation of his defence.

 

Ivanovic got left for dead by Steven Naismith

 



Mourinho has kept faith with Ivanovic



Mourinho explained his reason for not bringing in the Ghana international by saying: "Because Baba Rahman arrived in the last day, because he doesn't know what is is to play in this kind of championship.

"He had no pre-season with us. He needs time to learn, he needs time to adapt.

"If you don't have a minimum of five tall players good in the air, you are dead in set-pieces.

 

John Terry and Ivanovic have been in poor form

 

Baba Rahman made his only Chelsea appearance in the Champions League

"When I play Azpilicueta on the right and Baba Rahman on the left and I don't play Ivanovic, I have only three, not ever four (players who are in the air). 

"So we have to think about all the details. And I think about all the details."

Chelsea have slumped to four defeats in eight games and sit 16th in the table.

Villa, their opponents on Saturday, will be looking to increase the pain but are under pressure themselves with just four points and sitting in 18th.