Watford ace Nathaniel Chalobah in race against time for England World Cup squad because of knee injury

WATFORD star Nathaniel Chalobah is facing a race against time to keep his World Cup dream alive after it emerged on Thursday he will not be back to first-team training for at least three weeks.

Chalobah’s form at the start of the season saw him earn a call-up to the full England squad in September only for him to then have to have surgery the same month after fracturing his knee cap.

He has not been played since despite initial hopes be would be back this month.

Manager Marco Silva revealed yesterday that the 22-year-old Chelsea academy product is still on course to make his comeback this season.

He said: “The most important thing is when he starts working with us. He can return in two or three weeks or maybe a little bit later.

“After that it is a training sessions and then we will see when he can play.  He can be training next month.”

But that means he is unlikely to have time to impress Southgate ahead of England’s next two friendlies in March with only two games then left on the eve of the World Cup finals.

Silva though insists the £5 million signing from the Blues last summer – who he started in the first five matches of the season before his shock injury – still has time to step up again for his country.

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He said: “I’m sure – and it is a strong word – but he will have time to do everything.

“When he comes back – and I hope he comes back as soon as possible – it will be a matter of just regaining confidence as his quality is there.

“I’m sure he will not lose his quality or skills and everyone is ready to help support him as he is young boy but a boy who performed very well in the first two months.

“It was a fractured knee cap, a hairline crack and an unusual injury. It was something he started to feel, a stress fracture rather than incident.”

It comes as the club appointed a new medical director Spaniard Dr Emilio Lopez-Vidriero in a bid to halt an injury crisis Vicarage Road – not helped by summer recruit Gavin Benjafield having a short-lived spell which ended more than two months ago.

Silva is currently without EIGHT first-team players with injuries also dogging the club over the past 18 months.

Tom Cleverley is the latest on the treatment table having suffered a hamstring injury against Southampton last Saturday and is now doubtful for Saturday’s clash away to Leicester.

Dr Lopez-Vidriero, an orthapeadic specialist, has a private practice in Seville and has worked with the Spanish Olympic team, Spanish swimming federation and the Madrid tennis masters tournament.

Silva, whose team have not won in 10 Premier League matches, admitted: “It’s like bringing in a new player or coach because we feel he can help the club and improve the situation.”