Chelsea midfielder Mateo Kovacic has been ruled out of this evening’s Champions League Final dress rehearsal against Manchester City.

Kovacic’s thigh injury meant he was unable to face former club Real Madrid and will again sit out this weekend.

“We still have one more training to go, but Kova is out unfortunately still,” Thomas Tuchel told reporters on Friday.

“We hope to bring him back maybe for Arsenal [on Wednesday] and then hopefully for Wembley. It will be tight, even for Arsenal, but for tomorrow he is sure out. Everybody else I think is available.”

Tuchel has plenty of options, though, so Jorginho, Mason Mount and the imperious N’Golo Kante should continue in the middle.

Cesar Azpilicueta is likely to make way after another lung-busting display, meaning Reece James will come in for a chance to impress. The same can be said for Marcos Alonso to give Ben Chilwell a rest and Kurt Zouma potentially replacing Thiago Silva.

Timo Werner scored against Real Madrid but may leave the attacking focal point to Kai Havertz, who is another who looks reborn under Tuchel.

Chelsea predicted XI (4-3-3): Mendy; James, Zouma, Rudiger, Alonso; Jorginho, Kante; Pulisic, Mount, Hudson-Odoi; Havertz

Chelsea provisional squad: Arrizabalaga, Alonso, Christensen, Jorginho, Silva, Kante, Abraham, Pulisic, Werner, Caballero, Zouma, Mendy, Giroud, Mount, Hudson-Odoi, Chilwell, Ziyech, James, Azpilicueta, Havertz, Palmieri, Gilmour, Anjorin.