Chelsea’s Senegalese import, Edouard Mendy, will miss Saturday’s Premier League clash against Southampton over a thigh injury.
The Blues manager, Frank Lampard, the goalkeeper will not be available for the match but did not reveal if Kepa Arrizabalaga is in line for a recall.
Mendy has replaced error-prone Kepa as Chelsea’s first choice keeper following his £22 million ($28 million) move from Rennes in September.
The 28-year-old kept his first Chelsea clean-sheet in their win against Crystal Palace before the international break.
Bu Mendy is now facing a short spell on the sidelines following his injury during a Senegal training session last week.
That leaves Lampard to choose Kepa or Willy Caballero to replace Mendy this weekend.
Kepa, the world’s most expensive keeper, was dropped twice by Lampard last season and has not played for Chelsea since his latest costly mistake in the defeat against Liverpool in September.
He did keep a clean-sheet for Spain against Portugal recently, but Lampard will make him wait before learning if he is back in favour.
“Mendy won’t be fit for the match tomorrow. We hope the injury isn’t too long,” Lampard told reporters on Friday.
“I will make that decision myself about the goalkeepers tomorrow.”