Frank Lampard is facing an agonising wait over the fitness of N'golo Kante after the midfielder limped out of Chelsea's defeat to Man Utd.
The Blues' lynchpin lasted just 12 minutes of the Premier League encounter at Stamford Bridge on Monday, before being replaced by substitute Mason Mount.
Frenchman Kante has been ever-present for both club and country this season, whose injury will no doubt also be a concern to international boss Didier Deschamps.
The 28-year-old is a shoe-in for France's Euro 2020 squad this summer, but Lampard was not optimistic Kante would be making a swift return to action.
"It’s an adductor injury," Lampard told reporters. "We’ll have to assess it but it doesn’t look great.”
Chelsea suffered a damaging blow to their top four hopes as United gained ground in the Premier League with their 2-0 victory.
Next up for the Blues is the visit of Tottenham on Saturday, who sit just one point behind them in the table.
And Lampard confirmed Kante is unlikely to feature in the clash.
He told Chelsea's official Fifth Stand app: "N'Golo, after what happened tonight, is probably a no for Saturday."
Christian Pulisic and Callum Hudson-Odoi have also been ruled out, while Tammy Abraham is yet to prove his fitness after missing the United fixture.
With pressure now mounting on Chelsea to improve results, Lampard issued a rallying cry to his team.
"We're in fourth place by one point, so the season starts here and we need to fight to get fourth place," he added.
"We're fourth and it's still in our hands. I don't think many people would have put us in fourth place at this point in the season, so the fight starts now."
Chelsea once again created a hatful of chances against United, but failed to convert as they drew a blank in front of goal.
But Lampard refused to blame the club's inability to sign a striker in the transfer window for his side's troubles.
"I honestly don't want to talk about the window because it affects nothing now.
"The reality is in what we see in front of us.
"Every week we look at the stats and it's very clear we make as many chances as anyone else bar Liverpool. I don't want to talk about regrets, the window is past now."
