Mason Mount will be sent for a scan on an ankle injury picked up in the Club World Cup final after Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel revealed the midfielder was in real pain.
Mount started Saturday's final against Palmeiras but managed just 31 minutes before a collision with an opponent left him asking to be replaced, and the 23-year-old eventually left the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium on crutches.
“Mason was injured, in one of the very first scenes where he made a run to the far post with Azpi," Tuchel explained. “They both fell and his opponent fell on his ankle and he hurt his ligaments badly, so we have to see.
“He came straight to me and said he does not feel good, it felt painful.”
The Athletic note that Mount is heading for a scan on his right ankle to determine the severity of the issue.
Mount picked up a knock in the recent FA Cup victory over Plymouth and had to come off early in extra-time, and he managed just 18 minutes off the bench in the Club World Cup semi-final against Al Hilal.
He now faces an obvious race against time to prove his fitness before Chelsea's trip to Selhurst Park to face Crystal Palace on February 19.
Fortunately for Tuchel, he currently has a full group of forwards to select between. It was Christian Pulisic who replaced Mount against Palmeiras and both Timo Werner and Hakim Ziyech came off the bench to join Kai Havertz and Romelu Lukaku on the field.
Source : 90min