The Blues striker limped out of training yesterday and underwent treatment on a damaged ankle that could force him to miss their all-important clash at the City of Manchester stadium.

Shevchenko is almost certain to undergo a late fitness test but his absence may open the door for Sunday's FA Cup quarter-final hero Salomon Kalou to make a rare start.

The Ivory Coast international scored his fifth and most important goal for the club when he smashed an 85th-minute equaliser against Tottenham to earn Chelsea a replay at White Hart Lane next Monday.

The striker, whose boyhood idol was Arsenal's French ace Thierry Henry, is hoping to start against City in a bid to make his mark at Stamford Bridge.

Kalou said: "I am never afraid of a challenge, because that's what makes me stronger.

"I am waiting for my turn. There are a lot of big players at Chelsea and every player wants to be on the pitch. I am no different.

"I missed Holland when I first came here but I am now happy here because Chelsea is one big happy family.

"Of course I found it difficult when I first arrived because I am a young player in a big team like Chelsea.

"But the most important thing is to be here and learn to be a better player. I knew it would be difficult for me to play a lot. But I am fighting with Didier Drogba and Shevchenko for one position and that has given me a lot of hope.

"The most important thing is to learn a lot from both those players. They are two of the best strikers in the world and for me to learn from them is the best approach."

Meanwhile, Chelsea stars John Terry and Frank Lampard are determined to ensure their contract problems do not overshadow the club's fight for more success this season.

Captain Terry and England midfielder Lampard are both trying to negotiate long-term extensions to their current contracts and want their respective situations resolved as soon as possible.

The club have yet to make a formal offer to Lampard while Terry is unhappy with the length of the contract put on the table by the club.

Talks have been dragging on for months and the delay has sparked fresh speculation that they could quit the club in the summer.

Chelsea's Ghanaian midfielder Michael Essien signed a new five-year extension worth around £90,000-a-week on Monday and Lampard is keen to ensure that the loyalty shown to the club by him and Terry is not taken for granted.

Lampard, 28, may well be in a position to buy himself out of the club in the summer under FIFA rules.

But Terry cannot do the same and the Blues captain, fit again after the head injury he sustained in the Carling Cup final against Arsenal, is reportedly unhappy with Chelsea's decision to reduce the length of their offer from nine years to five.

Lampard said: "If there are any two players who have got the best interests of this club in their hearts it is me and John. The club know that.

"The contract situation is not a distraction and it is important it doesn't get talked about too much.

"Me and John don't like to see it and the fans don't like to see it."