Chelsea have suffered a major blow with the news that David Luiz is going to be ruled out for another month with knee and ankle injuries.

Luiz now faces a struggle to get match fit and back in the side before the end of the campaign.

The 30-year-old has been suffering with a knee injury for over a year after being on the receiving end of a reckless Sergio Aguero tackle during Chelsea's win at Manchester City in December 2016.

Standard Sport understands that he has travelled to see a specialist for treatment in Barcelona on more than one occasion this season, but problems still persist.

​Luiz has started just four games since the start of November, the last of which was the 4-1 loss at Watford in February.

While coach Antonio Conte has preferred to Andreas Christensen to play in the back three for the majority of the games, Luiz would be a useful asset to call upon right now.

Christensen has started to feel the effects of his first season as a regular in Chelsea's backline and made costly errors for three games in a row.

But Conte, who has also dropped captain Gary Cahill, will have to hope Christensen recovers his confidence as Luiz is ruled out.

Chelsea's season could be effectively over by the time the former Paris Saint-Germain star is available for selection again.

They face Barcelona in the second leg of their last 16 Champions League tie on March 14 before Leicester City in the FA Cup Quarter Final four days later.

Even if he returns to training ahead of the League game against West Ham on April 8 as is forecast, his lack match fitness for the best part of five months means it will take time for him to get in shape.

Chelsea are struggling to qualify for the Champions League next term via a top four finish as they currently sit in fifth place, five points behind Tottenham.

The players are back in training today after being given a day off following the disappointing 1-0 defeat at Manchester City.

Midfielder N'Golo Kante is expected to be involved having given the club a scare when he fainted at the training ground on Friday.

The France international was given the all-clear after being sent for cardiology tests and while he sat out the trip to Etihad Stadium, he did an individual training session without any problems.