REVEALED: Why Mason Mount did not play for Chelsea against Man City

Mason Mount has been left out of Chelsea’s squad to face Manchester City following an issue picked up in training, Chelsea Lens understands.

Mount’s absence forces one of just two changes Graham Potter has made for the visit of Pep Guardiola’s side.

Jorginho has dropped out of the starting XI to be replaced by Mateo Kovacic, making his first start following his return from the World Cup and is joined in midfield by Denis Zakaria. Hakim Ziyech, who reached the third place play-off in Qatar, where Morocco took on Croatia, also makes his first start since the competition, replacing Mount.

England international Mount is believed to have suffered a small knock with the Blues hopeful he will be fit enough to return in a few days. Potter revealed it was a result of a kick in training.

Ahead of the game, the head coch said: “No, he had a kick in training yesterday. It never rains but it pours as they say.”

Mount becomes Chelsea’s eighth player on the injury list after both Wesley Fofana and Reece James suffered setbacks as they made their returns to action, with James having to be replaced less than an hour into his first Premier League game back. Edouard Mendy, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Ben Chilwell, N’Golo Kante and Armando Broja remain out.

Chelsea XI: Kepa; Azpilicueta, Koulibaly, Silva, Cucurella; Zakaria, Kovacic; Ziyech, Pulisic; Havertz, Sterling

Chelsea substitutes: Bettinelli, Chalobah, Humphreys, Hall, Jorginho, Gallagher Chukwuemeka, Hutchinson, Aubameyang