Chelsea fans want 33 year-old to replace Rudiger against Franfurk

Antonio Rudiger sustained a knee injury last Sunday at Old Trafford and has left Chelsea head coach Maurizio Sarri with somewhat of a selection headache for the final weeks of the season.

Antonio struggles with the knee injury, Sunday | talkSPORT

The German international will play no part of the climax to the campaign after undergoing a knee operation.

On Tuesday night the club released an official statement which read:  

Toni Rudiger successfully underwent surgery on his left knee meniscus today. He will miss the rest of this campaign and will rehab over the summer to be back early next season.

"What a pity I won't be able to help my team during the last games of the season," Rudiger wrote on Instagram. " But my knee surgery went well and I'm already positive again.

 "Thanks for all your messages and comments.

 "And special thanks to the efforts of Professor Mariani and his team."

That leaves the Italian tactician short of options in central defence ahead of will be a season defining 11 days for the club in their quest to seal a top four finish as well as reach the Europa League final.

Tomorrow night they face Frankfurt away from home and whilst many would assume Andreas Christensen will get the nod to start alongside David Luiz, some Blues fans have suggested an alternative.

Take a look at what has been said on micro-blogging site Twitter...
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Rudiger out until the end of this season. Wrong timing. I’ll pick @GaryJCahill ahead of Christensen in the Europa League. Cahill should return.

— sultán (@SultanKayed) April 30, 2019

We want Gary cahill to substitue Rudiger

— Abdou (@abdou_chelsea) April 30, 2019

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Time for Gary Cahill

— Hasib (@legitmaniacc) April 30, 2019

Rudiger out for the rest of the season, the jury still out on Christensen and the end of the Europa League campaign is nigh. The stars have aligned. Gary Cahill will return. pic.twitter.com/GnHTsKQHM9

— Louis Beneventi (@Louis_Beneventi) April 30, 2019

As Antonio Rudiger is set to undergo surgery (Standard) I wait to see Gary Cahill at least once before the end of the season 💙 #CFC pic.twitter.com/EqSaYacAg0

— Shiko Tyras Kanté💙 (@Shiko_tyras) April 30, 2019

This is somewhat of a surprise as Gary Cahill - despite being club captain - has barely featured under Sarri this season, with his last appearance in any competition coming in the Europa League group phase back in November.

33 year-old Garry Cahill | 90min

Furthermore, he was expected to leave in the January transfer window and is likely to do so in the summer but there could be an unlikely farewell from the central defender.

Have a go at predicting the Chelsea XI to face Frankfurt at the comment section below.

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