Silva hopeful over injury

09 April 2013 19:18

Manchester City playmaker David Silva remains hopeful of being fit to face Chelsea in Sunday's FA Cup semi-final at Wembley

The Spain international suffered a hamstring injury in the closing stages of City's derby win over Manchester United on Monday night. Manager Roberto Mancini said after the game he thought it unlikely the 27-year-old would be able to play at the weekend but the player has not ruled himself out.

Silva said: "I have to have tests done tomorrow. We will see the results of the tests and we will see whether I can be ready to play on Sunday or not."

He added: "I felt it at the end and I still feeling it now. We will have to wait until tomorrow and see what the tests show. Hopefully I will be able to recover for Sunday.

"It would be a big blow for me. It is a game every player wants to play. Let's see what happens tomorrow but if I can't there are always team-mates that can play."

Despite their hard-earned 2-1 victory over the Barclays Premier League leaders at Old Trafford, City's title hopes remain remote. The champions still trail United by 12 points with just seven games remaining, but the performance underlined the team's enduring quality.

Mancini is convinced City will be good enough to recapture the crown next year and Silva is also a firm believer, and the former Valencia star said: "To achieve it again be we have to follow the line we showed last night.

"Also last year we had that little bit of luck at the right times, this year we haven't.

"We need to stick together to achieve it again but if we follow the line we followed last night we can do it.

"I feel we are growing every year as a club and we can see with the new contracts, we are growing, making a better team every year. I am confident we can win the title again next year."

Source: PA