Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino expects to discover the extent of an injury suffered by defensive mainstay Thiago Silva on Tuesday.
Centre-back Silva, who has featured in all but one of the Blues’ Premier League matches this season, was replaced by Levi Colwill in the 61st minute of his side’s 3-1 comeback win at Crystal Palace on Monday.
“We need to assess Thiago,” said Pochettino after Chelsea ended a run of two successive Premier League defeats. “He felt something in his groin.”
Pochettino has fewer concerns over right-back Malo Gusto, who was replaced by Alfie Gilchrist with six minutes remaining at Selhurst Park.
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“Malo was tired,” he said. “I think it is not going to be a big problem for him to be ready at the weekend.”
Malo Gusto ‘has things to improve’
Chelsea visit title contenders Manchester City at 17:30 GMT on Saturday, when Gusto is likely to start again in the absence of Reece James because of a hamstring injury which could keep the England international out for much of the rest of the campaign.
“The club bought Malo Gusto to try to compete with Reece James,” Pochettino said of the £26.3m signing from Lyon in January 2023.
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“He’s really, really young but now we need him to play a lot and play every single game. We can see some good things and things that he needs to improve.
“It’s his first season in the Premier League but we are so happy because he is doing well. He is going to improve.”
Gusto, 20, set up Conor Gallagher’s equaliser as Chelsea recovered from a goal behind at the break against Palace.
“We’ve played a lot of games with Axel Disasi or Alfie, as well,” reflected Pochettino. “The competition with Reece is what we wanted, to push them for form and be sure that we have two great players in this position.
“When you are so busy in the Premier League or other competitions like the FA Cup or Carabao Cup, it helps to have competition at a good level.”
Chelsea face Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final on February 25 and host Championship side Leeds United in the FA Cup fifth round three days later.
