• Silva a serious doubt for visit of Tottenham on Sunday • City optimistic of return for League Cup final and Champions League

David Silva has flown to Spain for treatment from the national team’s medical department on his injured ankle, with Manchester City hopeful he could return for their three potentially season-defining fixtures this month.

Silva suffered the problem in Saturday’s 3-1 defeat by Leicester City at the Etihad Stadium, the 30-year-old being forced off on 77 minutes. This was the Spaniard’s ninth separate ankle injury since he joined City in June 2010 and the forward had been playing in pain for some time, Manuel Pellegrini said afterwards.

“Although Silva is considered a serious doubt for Sunday’s visit of Tottenham Hotspur, Pellegrini is more optimistic about him returning for the fifth-round tie at Chelsea at Stamford Bridge the following Sunday.

That game is the start of a pivotal week for the club. On the Wednesday City are at Dynamo Kyiv for the Champions League last-16 first leg before travelling to London for the Capital One Cup final against Liverpool on 28 February.

Silva flew to his homeland on Sunday and it is understood he is seeing a trusted specialist from Spain’s medical department. Silva has missed around six weeks of the season because of a previous ankle injury. The playmaker was ruled out from 9 October when he played in Spain’s 4-0 victory over Luxembourg until the 3-1 win over Southampton on 28 November.