With Stephen Ireland confirmed as an injury absentee for a fortnight, there are also several other fitness concerns in Roberto Mancini’s squad.
A troublesome ankle that has kept Shaun Wright-Phillips out of the Manager’s first two games in charge of the Blues remains a concern for the winger, while Roque Santa Cruz continues to have treatment on the calf strain that also forced him to miss out against Stoke and Wolves.
Nedum Onuoha remains on track to return from the calf problem that saw him sidelined for three to four weeks after the Sunderland game. Wayne Bridge, who suffered a knee ligament injury in the win over Chelsea at the start of the month, is also making good progress but will remain out of the reckoning until into the New Year.
Midfielder Ireland sustained a hamstring strain in Monday night’s win at Molineux and will be out for two weeks.
