With Premier League football set to return, Armando Broja was looking forward to either cementing his place in Chelsea’s XI, or looking for a transfer elsewhere.
The 21-year-old had been on-loan at Southampton last season and he was looking to take his career to the next level – the likes of Everton and Newcastle United were linked with signing him.
But in a cruel blow to the striker, dubbed the ‘fastest man in the world’ by Raheem Sterling, he is now out for the rest of the season with an ACL injury, as reported by Fabrizo Romano.
What will be more difficult to take for Broja is that it happened in innocuous circumstances during a friendly defeat to Aston Villa in the UAE.
He was simply chasing down Ezri Konsa on the ball, who was looking to pass back to his keeper before changing his mind and changing directions, with Broja going in for a challenge, missing the ball and falling over in an awkward manner.
BROJA WILL COME BACK STRONGER
These next 12 months could have been very crucial for the Albania international taking his game to the next level, whether in Chelsea colours or abroad.
Whilst Newcastle’s name was linked to the hard-hitting striker, the most realistic move would have been to Frank Lampard’s Everton, who are in need of firepower.
But all of that will now have to be put on the back burner, as he plots his long road to recovery.
The issue he faces is, by the time he returns, Chelsea might have a different coach and probably an entirely different forward line given their troubles this season.
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