Chelsea will definitely be without goalkeeper Edouard Mendy for the trip to Manchester City in the FA Cup, as the club deal with a mounting injury list.
Mendy has not featured since the World Cup with a shoulder injury, but was nearing a return and may have been under consideration to face City in the cup on Sunday. However, the goalkeeper has now fractured a finger in training, Chelsea have confirmed, and has undergone surgery to rule him out of the trip to the Etihad.
The 30-year-old joins an increasing injury list that was added to by first half issues for Raheem Sterling and Christian Pulisic in Thursday's Premier League defeat to City, while another seven players are doubtful or definitely out.
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Chelsea's statement on Mendy said: "Goalkeeper Edouard Mendy has undergone an operation on a fractured finger sustained in training this week. The 30-year-old will work closely with the club’s medical department during his rehabilitation phase."
He joins Reece James, N'Golo Kante, Ben Chilwell, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Armando Broja in being injured and therefore unavailable to face City.
Sterling started against City in the week but appeared to pick up a problem with his hamstring within the opening two minutes, and was replaced early on against his former club. While Chelsea have not given any official update on Sterling's injury, reports have suggested he was set for scans on his hamstring, and could be set to miss the cup tie on Sunday.
Likewise, Pulisic hurt his knee when John Stones blocked his effort in the first half on Thursday, and had to be replaced, so is a doubt for the quick turnaround in Manchester. Mason Mount got a knock in training to rule him out of the league game, and is another player who may be unavailable.
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