Chelsea midfielder Mateo Kovacic is winning his race to be fit for Saturday's FA Cup Final against Liverpool.

The Croatian was taken off by stretcher following a brutal tackle by Leeds' Dan James on Wednesday.

Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel later claimed his key midfielder "needs a miracle" to face Liverpool at Wembley.

But the club is now hopeful that Kovacic has escaped serious injury even though James was given a straight red card by referee Anthony Taylor for the lunge at his ankle.

It is welcome news as Tuchel's midfield has been ravaged by injury lately with N'Golo Kante and Jorginho both missing games in recent weeks.