Chelsea’s Women’s Super League title defence has been rocked before a ball has even been kicked as star striker Mayra Ramirez will miss the start of the campaign after undergoing hamstring surgery. The 25-year-old pulled up clutching her right leg in the first half of Chelsea’s pre-season clash with AC Milan on Saturday. Looking visibly distraught, she was forced off and replaced by Chloe Sarwie.

Ramirez is sidelined after hamstring surgerySam Kerr is edging closer to a long-awaited returnBlues in talks to land Alyssa Thompson