Dortmund forward Moukoko to miss Chelsea clashes after being ruled out for six weeks

Youssoufa Moukoko will miss both legs of Borussia Dortmund’s Champions League tie against Chelsea after he was ruled out for around six weeks with an ankle injury.

The 18-year-old was replaced by Sebastien Haller in the first half of in-form Dortmund’s 2-0 Bundesliga win at Werder Bremen on Saturday.

Moukoko on Monday discovered he suffered a torn syndesmosis ligament and is expected to be sidelined until late next month.

Dortmund sporting director Sebastian Kehl said: “This is tough news for him and for us, especially in the current stretch. We kept our hopes up, but unfortunately he will be out some time.”

Happy Birthday to you, Sebastian Kehl! pic.twitter.com/55DAbW7mxs

— Borussia Dortmund (@BlackYellow) February 13, 2023

The teenager will miss the first leg of Dortmund’s round of 16 clash with Chelsea on Wednesday and the return fixture at Stamford Bridge on March 7.

A showdown with RB Leipzig is among the Bundesliga matches the Germany international will sit out.

Dortmund boss Edin Terzic will hope Moukoko will be available when his side travel to face leaders Bayern Munich on March 31, with a home game against second-placed Union Berlin to come a week later.

Terzic’s men are three points behind Bayern in third place and have won six consecutive games since the season resumed.