Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini is hoping Edin Dzeko is not ruled out of Sunday's game against Chelsea as the Premier League champions face the prospect of taking on the league leaders with just one fit striker.
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Bosnia-Herzegovina international Dzeko sustained a back problem in Wednesday's 1-0 Champions League defeat to Bayern Munich, but Pellegrini thinks the target man could recover in time for the match at the Etihad Stadium.
But Stevan Jovetic is still sidelined by a hamstring injury, meaning that after allowing Alvaro Negredo to join Valencia on deadline day, Sergio Aguero is the only centre-forward who is guaranteed to be available.
"Edin Dzeko has a problem in his back after the game but I hope he will be OK for Sunday," Pellegrini told his pregame news conference on Friday. "Jovetic and Fernando continue [to have injury] problems. All the other players are okay."
Aguero has suffered from calf, hamstring and groin injuries in the past and Pellegrini explained his decision to omit the Argentina international from his starting XI against Bayern was to ensure he stayed fit.
But now the coach believes the former Atletico Madrid forward is in prime condition to make a difference against Jose Mourinho's team.
"Maybe Sergio in this moment is not ready to play three games in a row in one week, [playing] 90 minutes [in all]," he said. "That is why I thought it was better for him and the squad not to play 90 minutes against Bayern. He is fresh for Sunday and I am sure he will make a difference."
Frank Lampard could face Chelsea for the first time since leaving Stamford Bridge in the summer, but Pellegrini said the 36-year-old -- who is the Londoners' record scorer with 211 goals -- has done nothing wrong in signing for City on loan from New York City FC.
"I don't think it is a difficult situation for him," he continued. "I think Frank didn't continue in Chelsea because Chelsea didn't want him, not because he wanted to come here to Manchester City. He couldn't continue with the team he played his whole life for.
"He has all the rights to continue playing football. He arrived here and we are very happy with him. Frank is part of our squad and for sure he will be involved."
Chelsea striker Diego Costa has become the first player in Premier League history to score seven goals in his first four games in the division, and Pellegrini -- who encountered the forward during his La Liga days -- said it is no shock the Spain international has started so well in England.
"I think the way Diego Costa plays, it is very good for him to play in the Premier League," he said. "It is the way he likes to play. He is a very strong striker, a good striker so I was not surprised what he is doing here."
Defeat would put City eight points behind the league leaders but Pellegrini added: "I always try to think of positives so I hope we are not going to lose and we not going to go eight points behind Chelsea."