Chelsea forward Armando Broja was carried off on a stretcher after appearing to suffer a serious knee injury during a friendly against Aston Villa in Abu Dhabi on Sunday.

Broja has assumed a more prominent role at Chelsea since returning from a season-long loan at Southampton, making 18 appearances this term and scoring his first Blues goal in October's Premier League win over Wolves.

The Albania international was selected to lead the line against Villa, with Graham Potter looking to get his Chelsea squad up to full speed ahead of the Premier League's resumption later this month.

However, Broja was carried from the field after going down clutching his left knee, following an early collision with Ezri Konsa, having fallen awkwardly when appearing to catch his studs in the turf. Broja could be heard screaming at the pain of the injury.

A youthful Chelsea side fell to a 1-0 defeat against Unai Emery's men, with John McGinn sweeping home the only goal of the game after seven minutes.

Chelsea will resume their Premier League campaign against Bournemouth on December 27 at Stamford Bridge, having dropped to eighth in the table following a poor run ahead of the World Cup.