Chelsea suffer fresh injury blow at training ground as 20-year-old is ruled out of Manchester City game

Chelsea midfielder Carney Chukwuemeka is set for some time on the treatment table after twisting his ankle in training, manager Mauricio Pochettino confirmed ahead of the game against Manchester City. The 20-year-old only recently returned from a knee injury he picked up against West Ham.

Pochettino told reporters at the club's training base in Cobham: "Robert Sanchez is available. Carney Chukwuemeka twisted his ankle two days ago and is out." 

Cole Palmer who has taken to life at Chelsea as a Duck to water will be returning to the club where he came through the ranks and is expected to lead the Chelsea attack. Asked what he made of the young striker's adaptation and going back to the place where it all started for him, Pochettino said Palmer was a rare breed.

He told reporters: "He's not the type of player that needs to prove anything. He left the club because he wanted to find another challenge and the possibility to play more. He's going to be there trying to play and performing for his team." 

Chelsea played out an entertaining 4-4 draw with Manchester City in the reverse encounter back in November and Pochettino says the results showed they needed to be brave against a team he described as the best in the world. 

He added: "The lesson is that we are going to play against a very good team, one of the best in the world, but we need to be brave and force them to defend. It's a team that can dominate you.

"The most important thing is to go there and challenge them, be brave."