Chelsea vs Dynamo Kiev: Radamel Falcao suffers muscle injury ahead of Champions League tie

Chelsea striker Radamel Falcao faces a sustained spell on the sidelines after picking up an "important" muscle injury in training. Manager Jose Mourinho says the Colombia international picked up the problem on the eve of the Champions League visit of Dynamo Kiev and faces a lengthy period out of the first team.

The 29-year-old has scored just one goal in 14 appearances for the Blues since clinching a season-long loan move to the Premier League champions. Falcao had made just three starts in all competitions this term and has been a marginalised figure for the west London club this term. He joins Thibaut Courtois, Branislav Ivanovic and Pedro on the Stamford Bridge treatment table.

Speaking ahead of the resumption of Chelsea's European campaign, Mourinho said, according to BBC Sport: "Falcao today [3 November] suffered an important injury, not as important as the ones he had previously but he had an important muscular injury and he will be out for a few weeks. There is no point talking about him just to give you this sad news."

The return of the Champions League gives Chelsea some much-needed respite from their domestic trials, which saw them suffer their sixth defeat in 11 league games following the 3-1 loss to Liverpool. Mourinho's side have endured a troubled campaign on the continent too, having won just one of their three group games, and are currently on course to miss out on the knockout phase.

Such a dramatic U-turn in Chelsea's fortunes has led to various theories being shared into their plight this season, with the club having won the Premier League and the League Cup last term. A potential division in the dressing room and a disagreement over tactics have been suggested. However, Mourinho says he is aware of the route of the problem but has refused to disclose the details.

"Yes I know [what the problems are]," he said. "I would be here for a long time, it is a combination of factors and some of them I can't or don't want to even touch them. Everything is football related. We don't want to blame social or political problems in some area of the globe. It is a combination of factors, it is not one reason. It would be easy to fix, it is not one reason. I don't want to say more than that."