Thiago Silva out for up to six weeks in blow to Graham Potter and Chelsea

Graham Potter’s problems have increased after Chelsea confirmed that Thiago Silva damaged knee ligaments against Tottenham, ruling the centre-back out of pivotal games against Leeds United and Borussia Dortmund.

Silva was forced off during the defeat at Spurs after a challenge on Harry Kane during the first half and his absence will come as a major blow to Potter, who could be without the defender for up to six weeks. Chelsea’s head coach is under growing pressure after a damaging run of form and, although he is said to retain the complete backing of the hierarchy, that support could ebb away if he loses the next two games.

Chelsea are 10th in the Premier League before hosting Leeds on Saturday and Potter could face a hostile reaction from the crowd if they witness another defeat. The focus will then turn to the home tie against Dortmund in the last 16 of the Champions League, with the German side 1-0 up from the first leg.

The board want to give Potter time but the former Brighton manager is aware that results and performances must improve. Doubts have crept in around Potter for the first time since his appointment last September.

Turning the situation around will be made harder without Silva. The 38-year-old is the leader in central defence and recently signed a one-year contract extension. Potter’s alternatives include Wesley Fofana, Trevoh Chalobah, Kalidou Koulibaly and Benoît Badiashile, who could face Leeds but is not eligible for the Dortmund game after being omitted from the Champions League squad. Chelsea struggled after Silva went off against Spurs.

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Chelsea said: “Having sustained a