Mendy returns to Chelsea after suffering injury on Senegal duty

Kepa Arrizabalaga's time away from the spotlight may be short-lived.

Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, who supplanted the out-of-form Kepa and Willy Caballero to start in his new club's last two matches, has withdrawn from Senegal duty after suffering a thigh injury during Wednesday's training session.

The £22-million summer signing underwent a medical examination at a hospital in Rabat, Morocco, before being sent back to Chelsea for further tests. Senegal is set to play Morocco in a Friday friendly before another non-competitive fixture against Mauritania next week.

Mendy was poised to add to his eight caps over the October international break after featuring in a 1-1 League Cup draw with Tottenham Hotspur and logging a clean sheet in Saturday's 4-0 defeat of Crystal Palace. The 28-year-old shot-stopper moved to Chelsea from Ligue 1's Rennes in September.

Kepa, meanwhile, played the full 90 minutes of Spain's 0-0 friendly draw with Portugal on Wednesday. Spain also crams in two Nations League fixtures against Switzerland and Ukraine before players return to their respective clubs.