Chelsea may ask Tammy Abraham to play through the pain barrier for Saturday’s trip to Leicester City if they cannot sign a new striker in time to deputise for him.

Abraham injured his ankle in the draw with Arsenal and had to miss the FA Cup fourth-round victory over Hull City.

Chelsea are monitoring his fitness and rate the 22-year-old as touch-and-go for the game against third-placed Leicester, who themselves have Jamie Vardy returning from injury.

But with a 16-day break before their next match against Manchester United, Chelsea could try to nurse Abraham through the Leicester game before giving him some time off.

Head coach Frank Lampard is desperate to sign a new striker before the transfer window shuts on Friday night and is also aware that Olivier Giroud is likely to move to Inter Milan.

Krzysztof Piatek remains a target for Chelsea

Edinson Cavani is Lampard’s top choice, but the club are also monitoring alternatives including Tottenham Hotspur target Krzysztof Piatek.

While Chelsea are hopeful of signing a striker, they face a race against time to register a new man in time to face Leicester which means Lampard may have to decide between patching up Abraham or starting with Michy Batshuayi.

Lampard has confirmed he will give his players a rest during the two-week February break, but will not be taking them overseas for any warm weather training.

“The players will have some time off, get some rest, we are not going to travel to train anywhere,” said Lampard. “The players will get some rest and I will let them be with their families, go back to their countries or whatever, their choice. And then we will be back here to train and have a good portion of, not a mini pre-season, but there will be some hard work. But they will get some rest, no warm weather work.”

Abraham, along with Harry Kane and Marcus Rashford, is one of three England strikers currently injured and Lampard believes the situation is a worry for manager Gareth Southaget ahead of the European Championships.

Asked if the punishing schedule was a concern ahead for the Euros, Lampard, who made 106 appearances for England, said: “Yeah I think so as an England fan and I'm sure Gareth Southgate is (concerned). You talk about Kane, you talk about Rashford and our own Tammy, of course. You are talking about pivotal players in the team, so, of course, yes.

“We do now have a winter break. I suppose you can argue where that break is, because all these injuries have come before it so maybe that puts the timing of it under the spotlight. But I do think that will be a benefit, for sure, the two-week break.”