Chelsea boss Graham Potter has revealed that Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was absent from the squad to face Manchester City on Sunday due to a small injury.
The 33-year-old was notably absent from Graham Potter’s teamsheet for the Blues’ 4-0 FA Cup third-round defeat at the Etihad.
Aubameyang came on for Raheem Sterling after just five minutes against the Premier League champions on Thursday, but he was taken off himself in the second half.
The former Arsenal man is now confirmed to be suffering from a back injury, which Potter confirmed to Chelsea’s social media channels following the game, adding to the club’s growing fitness issues.
Aubameyang has only scored three goals and provided one assist in 16 appearances for the Blues since joining in the summer transfer window, starting all six Champions League games but only four in the Premier League.
The Gabon international was visibly frustrated as he was removed from the field against Manchester City on Thursday, and his contract at Stamford Bridge expires in 18 months.
Aubameyang has now joined a full-capacity treatment room for the West London club, which also lost Christian Pulisic and Sterling to injuries in Thursday’s match against the Citizens.
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“Christian just opened up his knee in the game the other day so we’re still analysing it. It’s going to be weeks I would say,” Potter told chelseafc.com.
“Raheem just had an action in the first minute that game, a back heel that was a bit strange and he felt something in his hamstring. So again we are analysing that. Aubameyang had a tight back yesterday so was unable to travel.”
Chelsea will look to avenge their FA Cup defeat against Fulham in a Premier League West London derby on Thursday evening.
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