Chelsea midfielder Mateo Kovacic is a major doubt for his side’s Premier League showdown against Tottenham on Saturday, according to the Sun.
The newspaper claim the on-loan Real Madrid star could miss the Premier League 5.30pm kick-off after suffering a muscular injury while on international duty.
Kovacic was omitted from the Croatia squad for his side’s Nations League defeat to England at Wembley last Sunday after missing training due to the problem.
OPINION
Kovacic would be a big miss for Chelsea if he cannot make the eagerly anticipated London derby between the third and fourth placed sides. The 24-year-old has established himself as a key member of Maurizio Sarri’s side since joining on a season-long loan from Real, starting seven league matches this season and delivering a man-of-the-match display in the thrilling 1-1 draw against Liverpool. Sarri has effectively narrowed down his favoured central midfield to three out of Kovacic, Jorginho, N’Golo Kante and Ross Barkley. Each have different qualities but 49-times international Kovacic is certainly not inferior to any of them, with his dynamism, energy and composure in the centre of the pitch making a big impression since his summer move from Spain. The former Inter Milan midfielder has demonstrated that he can cut it a Premier League level and Sarri and his coaching staff would be disappointed if he doesn’t recover in time for the Wembley trip.