Sarri admits Chelsea’s injuries are a concern

Maurizio Sarri was pleased with Chelsea’s win at Crystal Palace but admitted their mounting injuries are becoming a concern.

N’Golo Kante scored the winner in a 1-0 victory at Selhurst Park, where Olivier Giroud was taken off after suffering an ankle injury.

Giroud, recalled to the side by Sarri, left the ground on crutches and could be facing a lengthy spell out.

Pedro and Callum Hudson-Odoi were unavailable because of hamstring problems and three midfielders – Cesc Fabregas, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and the out of favour Danny Drinkwater – all picked up injuries on the eve of the match.

Fabregas has a neck injury and it is not yet clear how long he and Loftus-Cheek are likely to be out for.

Hudson-Odoi could return for Chelsea’s next game, against Southampton, but Pedro will still be sidelined and Giroud looks highly unlikely to be involved in that game.

Blues boss Sarri is due to meet with the club doctor on Sunday evening for an update on the injury situation.

By then there could be an initial verdict on the injury suffered by Giroud, who will undergo a scan.

“The problem is his ankle. I don’t know at the moment how long (Giroud could be out for),” Sarri explained.

“Later in the evening I will see the doctor for the first results (of a scan) but it (the main scan) will be tomorrow.

“We have been unlucky. Yesterday in 10 minutes we had three injuries – Fabregas, Loftus and Drinkwater – and today we had Pedro and Odoi out.

“So we are in trouble, because we have to play every three days.”

Chelsea’s win took them five points clear of fifth-placed Arsenal and they were largely comfortable before a late Palace rally in which Connor Wickham missed a great chance to equalise.

“I think we played against very dangerous opponents,” said Sarri.

“We played a very good match and for 85 minutes we were in full control. It was difficult to defend in the last five minutes.

“I only didn’t like that we weren’t able to kill the match.”