Chelsea dealt injury blow with key star doubtful for Carabao Cup final

Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount is an injury doubt for the Carabao Cup final against Liverpool next week.

The England international suffered an ankle issue during the early stages of the Club World Cup final victory over Palmeiras last weekend and was replaced after just half an hour.

Mount, who has scored seven goals and laid on eight assists in a season hindered by injury, is now set for at least two weeks on the sidelines, meaning he will miss Saturday’s trip to Crystal Palace and Chelsea’s return to the Champions League when Lille visit Stamford Bridge for the first leg of their last-16 tie next week.

Thomas Tuchel’s side then face Liverpool at Wembley on Sunday, February 27 in the Carabao Cup final, a shot at a second trophy this month for Chelsea, though Mount is unlikely to feature.

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Christian Pulisic has been frustrated with a lack of game time and the positions he has been deployed in by Tuchel, meaning the next two weeks are a chance to impress for the American.

“He made a run with César Azpilicueta and they fell and his opponent fell on his ankle and he hurt his ligaments badly,” Tuchel said of Mount following the Club World Cup triumph in Abu Dhabi.

“He came straight to me and said, ‘It does not feel good, it feels very stiff and painful,’ so we had to make the decision.”

Tuchel will at least be able to welcome back Reece James from a hamstring injury soon, with the full-back having been absent since December.