Hiddink confirms another Falcao injury

Guus Hiddink has confirmed Radamel Falcao is set for another spell in the treatment room, with the Premier League flop not expected to feature again for Chelsea until February.

Falcao moved to Stamford Bridge on loan from Monaco in the summer after completing a similar injury-plagued spell at Manchester United.

However, the move has failed to take off for both club and player with the striker only making one start in the league, netting once before picking up a thigh injury in November.

Falcao was due to return imminently but suffered another setback when he was injured in a training game against Cobham, with Hiddink confirming the 29-year-old is set for another lay-off.

"It’s the inside of his thigh and it’s the same now as it was before,” Hiddink told reporters. “He’s having treatment at the moment but he cannot appear on the pitch.

"He was out and our medical staff tried to build him up but he had the setback, which is not a positive signal. We hope within 10 days he might be fit again, but not to play."

Given the situation on the injury front, with Eden Hazard the only other reliable forward option available, the Dutchman is unprepared to let bit-part player Loic Remy leave for Aston Villa on loan in January.

“First of all, it’s important, in the situation Chelsea are in, that we have the most powerful squad possible," the manager, who replaced Jose Mourinho at the helm, stated in direct response to Villa coach Remi Garde's public overtures for the player.

"“He’s our player and you have to respect where the players are. If you are interested, talk first to the people with whom they are contracted.

"You cannot go into details [at a press conference] but the player has signed a contract here and must be fit for us first. He’s having a difficult time regarding his injuries. He has to prove first of all that he’s a good Chelsea player.”