Chelsea interim manager Guus Hiddink has revealed that striker Radamel Falcao is "back to square one" due to a new injury setback.
Falcao has not played for the Blues in two months because of a thigh injury and recently suffered a recurrence of the muscle problem when on the verge of returning to full fitness.
Hiddink said that the Colombian might be available again in mid-January.
"We had him in a game and he had this injury again that he had before. It's the inside of his thigh," Hiddink told reporters.
"Yes, I think it's back to square one. He's in treatment at the moment. He cannot appear on the pitch.
"He was out and our medical staff tried to build him up, and he had a setback which is not always a positive signal."
With Loic Remy the subject of interest from Aston Villa in the upcoming transfer window, Chelsea might only be left with two out-and-out strikers in Falcao and first-choice Diego Costa.
Pascal Lemesre
