Graham Potter hopes to have Chelsea midfielder Mateo Kovacic available for the derby against Fulham on Friday.
As quoted by the 5th Stand, Potter circled the capital city clash at the end of the week as the possible return date for Kovacic.
The 28-year-old missed the recent draw with Liverpool, causing Lewis Hall to start the fixture at Anfield in central midfield.
Whilst Hall did hold his own, Kovacic’s gift at breaking forward was missed on the weekend.
Mateo Kovacic could face Fulham
With N’Golo Kante still out, and Ruben Loftus-Cheek only just back from a lengthy injury absence, Potter will be eager to call upon the £40m Croatian international for visit from Fulham.
“He felt a little tightness in his calf,” explained the manager as the reason for Kovacic not facing Liverpool
“We’re hopeful for Fulham. He felt it at the end of the Crystal Palace game.
“So, that’s a blow for us, but we managed it quite well, and credit to the boys who came in.”
Potter will need to put out the strongest XI possible for the meeting in London with Marco Silva’s men.
Fulham managed to defeat Chelsea 2-1 earlier in the month, thanks to goals either side of Joao Felix’s red card.
Had Felix not been dismissed an hour into his debut for the Blues, the contest at Craven Cottage might’ve changed entirely.
But Silva’s group took advantage of their man advantage and secured the win via the head of former Tottenham Hotspur man Carlos Vinicius.
Chelsea have slightly improved since the previous showdown with Fulham, having picked up four points against Crystal Palace and Liverpool.
Mykhailo Mudryk’s first appearance will provide added optimism, whilst fellow new recruit Benoit Badiashile continues to impress, two players who didn’t face the Whites previously.
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