Chelsea loanee Jamal Blackman fractures leg in same game as Izzy Brown returns from ACL tear

The balance of Chelsea Loan Army health was maintained today in somewhat bizarre fashion, as Izzy Brown played for the first time in 10 months but Jamal Blackman suffered a leg fracture.

Both Brown and Blackman play on loan for Leeds United right now, and they both started the match for their U23 team against Bolton. Leeds United have one of the the top teams in the Professional Development League, though Bolton were top of the table coming in and remain there after the 3-0 victory.

The defeat was made even worse by the fractured tibia that Blackman picked up in the dying minutes of the contest. He will now return to Chelsea for treatment and recovery.

“Unfortunately due to the extent of the injury we will have to send Jamal back to Chelsea, which is really disappointing for the club.

“Not only is Jamal a really good goalkeeper, but he is also a good person too and he has been an exemplary professional since joining the club. He will be missed by everyone at Thorp Arch, we wish him well and everyone hopes to see him back playing again soon.”

-Viktor Orta; Leeds DoF; source: Leeds United FC

Blackman hadn’t played much — just five first-team matches, thus his appearance for the reserves — but was possibly in line for more minutes thanks to a dip in young first-choice goalkeeper's Bailey Peacock-Farrell’s form.

In better news, Izzy Brown played the full first-half as he bids to come back form his massive knee injury suffered ten months ago. G’wan, Izzy!