Chelsea fear Maxence Lacroix may be sidelined until January after hamstring injury

Chelsea fear defender Maxence Lacroix could be out until January after suffering a serious hamstring injury at the end of the first half of Wednesday's Carabao Cup loss to Liverpool on penalties. Multiple sources told BBC Sport the France international, 26, could miss up to 10 matches.

The £52m summer signing from Crystal Palace has started 10 of Chelsea's 11 games in all competitions this season. Only Morgan Rogers has logged more minutes for the club so far this term.

The setback occurred as Lacroix sprinted and attempted to block a shot late in the first half of the Carabao Cup tie. Sources inside Chelsea, including manager Xabi Alonso, have been guarded on the likely length of the absence.

When asked about Lacroix's injury at his media conference before Saturday's Premier League visit of Manchester United, Alonso said: "Max, he picked up an injury, and we expect that he's not going to be ready before the international break. So he will be a few weeks out."

Chelsea have a six-man centre-back group that includes Levi Colwill, Wesley Fofana, Josh Acheampong, Jorrel Hato and Aaron Anselmino as alternatives, although Hato and Anselmino are currently injured, with others having also lined up at full-back.

Alonso outlined immediate options and praised performances, saying: "With Max's injury, we have Wes, we have Levi [Colwill], Josh [Acheampong], he could play as well as centre-back. Jorrel when he is back with the team [is an option]. Wes has played [and] even if he missed the penalty [in the shootout], I think that he had a good game. He was consistent, he was strong and I saw many positives from his performance. We know the level that he has had and he's going to be important."

Alonso also revealed goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez is having a special mask fitted to play while recovering from a broken jaw and that midfielder Moises Caicedo avoided injury despite concerns after the midweek clash with Liverpool. Chelsea sit fifth in the Premier League with 13 points from eight matches and have kept only one clean sheet in that period.

Alonso delivered the updates at his pre-match media conference ahead of Chelsea's Saturday Premier League visit to Manchester United.