Chelsea goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen is sweating over his fitness for the upcoming Liverpool clash after a bizarre eye injury incurred on international duty left him briefly without sight.
The 22-year-old, who made a summer move to Chelsea from Villarreal for £20million, was in goal for Denmark’s Under-21s during their 2-0 victory against Iceland last Tuesday.
Unfortunately, Jorgensen had to leave the pitch after an accidental collision with teammate Oliver Provstgaard resulted in a significant eye injury.
Jorgensen temporarily ‘lost vision’ in his right eye, while Danish outlets noted he had ‘problems with his head’. Denmark U21 manager Steffen Hojer spoke post-match to reduce anxiety about Jorgensen’s condition, suggesting the substitution was precautionary and aimed at avoiding concussion risks.
Speaking to Bold, the Danish outlet, Hojer commented: “It’s crazy how unlucky he is. Now that [concussion] quota must be used up. IIt [the substitution] wasn’t planned.”
“He got hit down there and wasn’t quite at his best. We decided to take him out [of the game], so he didn’t have to go back to Chelsea with something or other”, reports the Express.
Inquiring after Jorgensen’s post-match condition, Hojer said: “I don’t know how he’s doing. But I don’t think it’s something that people should be worried about. We just didn’t want to take any chances.”
Andreas Jungdal, stepping in for his team-mate Jorgensen, remarked: “I thought Filip looked fine after the collision, but then I was told that he had a headache.”
It’s a significant setback for Jorgensen, who has not yet played in the Premier League for the Blues, as Robert Sanchez is the current favoured option by Enzo Maresca but has faced criticism in recent performances. Despite the league snub, Jorgensen has been impressive in other competitions, notably standing out during the UEFA Conference League qualifiers, where he kept his net untouched in a commendable 2-0 victory at home against Servette and recorded another clean sheet with a dominant 5-0 Carabao Cup performance against Barrow.
During an interview, Jorgensen reflected on his scarce time on the pitch and how he’s settled into Cobham following the move from Spanish soil: “I have enjoyed it very much, even more than I expected. Everyone has been very welcoming,” Jorgensen told the club’s website. “With the facilities and everyone to help you train hard and get to the highest level, it is a dream for someone like me who loves to train and develop.
“This year I want to play as much as I can, win the Conference League, win titles, and get better every day.”
Post-collision, he’s returned to Chelsea for further checks before the upcoming clash with Liverpool on Sunday. If he’s not fit in time, Marcus Bettinelli stands ready to fill the gap.
