Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel is hopeful for Edouard Mendy being fit for Saturday’s UEFA Champions League final after making a “huge improvement” from a rib injury.
The Senegal goalkeeper collided with the goal post trying to keep out Bertrand Traore’s goal in a 2-1 defeat against Aston Villa at Villa Park in the Premier League.
He was replaced by Spanish goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga for the second half before going for a scan.
“We still have hope that he joins training on Wednesday and he joins the group,” said Tuchel who will want his number 1 back in goal for the all-important Champions League final against Manchester City.
“He’s made a huge improvement in the management of pain.
“So we need a further update on Wednesday but we hope to have him back in training.”
Chelsea will face the newly-crowned English champions City in the final at Porto, Portugal.
Mendy, who has impressed since arriving from Rennes last September, has kept 16 Premier League clean sheets to help his side secure a fourth-place finish.
“Edou will play if he is fit, and if he is not fit on Wednesday, we will try on Thursday, and on Friday, and be always reasonable and take the responsibility for this decision,” said Tuchel.
“At the same time, we have trust if he cannot make it because we have a strong guy on the bench in Kepa who can start.
“So now the race is on. We are very happy first of all, the images don’t show anything too serious. So every hour counts now, every day counts.
“And hopefully the team around Edou and he himself can do enough that he will be on the pitch. It would be a big boost for us.”
Chelsea midfielder N’Golo Kante is also a doubt with a hamstring injury but Tuchel added that the French World Cup winner’s issue “looks good and I hope it stays like that”.
“We are still a young team and we try to improve them and make them learn from every game,” added Tuchel ahead of the crucial tie against Man City.
“We need to adjust details and we need to be spot on next Saturday if we are to have a positive outcome.”
