Premier League told to CANCEL final round of fixtures before World Cup starts as talkSPORT host warns Ben Chilwell’s hamstring injury puts hopes of playing for England in Qatar in jeopardy

The Premier League has been told to CANCEL the final round of fixtures before the World Cup starts.

With less than three weeks to go before the start of the tournament, an increasing number of players are picking up injuries that could end their hopes of representing their respective nations.

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The latest name is England left-back Ben Chilwell, who pulled up with a hamstring injury towards the end of Chelsea’s win over Dinamo Zagreb in the Champions League.

Blues boss Graham Potter didn’t give too much away regarding Chilwell’s injury, but admitted it doesn’t look positive.

However, talkSPORT hosts Jamie O’Hara and Jason Cundy believe Chiwell’s World Cup hopes are over.

“It’s a suspected pulled hamstring but we know as ex-footballers when you pull a hammy,” O’Hara said on The Sports Bar.

“It’s like someone sticks a knife down the back of your leg, it’s horrible. It’s a shooting pain and you instantly know.

“You could see his face, he went white instantly. You know he’s done. It’s a six-week injury, four to six weeks so it kills his World Cup hopes.”

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Chilwell joins a growing list of England players who may miss out on the World Cup, with Chelsea teammate Reece James as well as Manchester City duo Kyle Walker and Kalvin Phillips facing a race to be fit.

Other nations are feeling the pinch too with Liverpool and Portugal forward Diogo Jota to miss out, while Tottenham and South Korea star Heung-min Son potentially missing out with a fracture around his left eye.

“You’ve lost Reece James, you’ve lost Ben Chilwell, but for England it’s a serious problem. Players are dropping like flies,” O’Hara added.

“We keep going on about the amount of fixtures they have to squeeze in before the World Cup starts, and big games too.

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“This game tonight, the last Champions League group game, is meant to be played in around the second week of December. The big players have had to play in these games to get the club through.”

Cundy argued that injuries just before the World Cup started was inevitable due to the fact it is happening midway through a season and there was no other alternative but to bunch the fixtures together.

But O’Hara believes drastic action is needed from the Premier League.

“Cancel the last round of games in the Premier League, give them a bit of breathing space,” O’Hara said.

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“The Premier League should do it, or the players should get involved.

“This is the problem with the Premier League. It’s all about money, all about getting the revenue in. The players are not being protected.

“It’s as simple as that. There are too many games and too many injuries and England are going to suffer.”

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