With Chilwell on the long-term treatment table and Reece James awaiting scan results to assess the damage of a hamstring injury, Tuchel has been shorn of options at wing-back ahead of a challenging run of fixtures in January.

The Blues boss has revealed that discussions are underway to mitigate against the loss of Chilwell in particular, with the winter transfer window open from tomorrow and the possibility of recalling Emerson Palmieri from his season-long loan at Lyon currently being explored.

‘We are looking into it because we now have a new situation with Ben Chilwell so of course we look into whether we can do something and what we can do,’ he said.

‘One of the possibilities and the players we know and that we love as a person is Emerson but we need to check. We are not into details. We are discussing and reflecting and this will go on for the coming days, maybe weeks.’

Marcos Alonso is likely to deputise on the left in the meantime, while right wing-back options include Cesar Azpilicueta, Christian Pulisic and Callum Hudson-Odoi, who have all performed in the role in recent weeks.

Azpilicueta’s deployment out wide could be dependent on reinforcements returning in central defence and Tuchel had mixed news on the fitness of a pair of centre-backs.

‘Andreas Christensen has the same back pain that he had before and which made him miss some games before but Thiago Silva is back in training,’ continued Tuchel.

On Timo Werner, who has been recovering from Covid-19 symptoms, the boss added: ‘Timo does not feel good.

‘He’s the one who suffers the most from Covid and who is still struggling physically.’