Mourinho facing Cudicini blow

Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho could be without Italian goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini for Sunday’s Barclays Premiership showdown with Arsenal at Stamford Bridge.

Cudicini suffered a muscle injury during the later stages of their win over Bolton last week and it forced him to miss yesterday’s UEFA Champions League victory over Levski Sofia.

He will have a late fitness test but Mourinho admits his chances of recovering in time are ‘doubtful’ and he may be forced to go into Sunday’s crucial game with reserve Hilario and the untried Magnus Hedman on the bench.

Hilario’s last appearance for the English champions was in their 2-1 defeat by Tottenham at White Hart Lane last month but Mourinho will have to rely on him against Arsene Wenger’s side if Cudicini fails to shake off the injury.

Hedman, signed until the end of the season as cover for Cudicini and Hilario while Petr Cech recovers from his skull injury, has yet to be involved with the first team.

Mourinho said: “If I don’t have Carlo I have Hilario and Magnus Hedman. We have permission from the Premier League to play him.

“Carlo has a muscle injury which the scan has confirmed. He did it taking the last goal-kick against Bolton.”

Mourinho had two reasons to be cheerful despite feeling the effects of the medication prescribed for the migraine attack which hampered his preparations for their final Group A game.

Firstly, the much-maligned Shevchenko scored his first goal for the club in the competition and Mourinho’s night was topped off by substitute Wright-Phillips, who hit the target for the first time in Chelsea colours after 52 appearances.

The victory left Chelsea as winners of the group and Shevchenko just five goals adrift of Gerd Muller’s all-time European scoring record.

His 27th minute strike, beautifully despatched into the net with the outside of his right foot, was his 57th in European club football and his 44th in the Champions League.

It put him one ahead of Raul and Eusebio and Mourinho believes the £30million buy from AC Milan can go on to be the best in history.

Mourinho added: “Sheva scored a goal and it is one that puts him ahead of Eusebio in the top scores in the history of European football.

“He is just behind Gerd Muller but he is only 30 years of age and with a few years of Champions League football in front of him, he can jump to the best ever.”

The Chelsea boss was equally happy with the contribution of Wright-Phillips - a recent transfer target for London rivals West Ham.

He sent a 20-yard drive into the bottom corner for his first goal for the club seven minutes from time and Mourinho insisted the England winger was not for sale.

Mourinho said: “I want him to stay. We know the squad is good in quality but short on numbers.

“We cannot lose players. We have 19 outfield players for the four competitions we are still involved in – we need every player.

“If the answers from him are positive ones then that is good for me, the team and for the boy. His future does not depend on a goal he scored.”