Lampard, who had hernia surgery at the start of the month, was originally pencilled in for the visit to West Ham 12 days ago but fears his return to action could now be delayed even longer.
He has aggravated his groin in training this week and told friends at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night that he faces a race against time to make the eagerly anticipated City clash.
The durable midfielder, who has been a virtual ever-present in the Chelsea starting line-up since joining the club in 2001, has now missed the Double winners’ last four games, as well as England’s two Euro 2012 qualifiers earlier this month, since limping out of Chelsea’s 2-0 victory over Stoke on August 29.
His possible absence presents another headache for manager Carlo Ancelotti, whose team were reduced to 10 men in the second half of the 4-3 Carling Cup defeat to Newcastle on Wednesday after Salomon Kalou, Yossi Benayoun and Gael Kakuta all broke down.
Kalou was stretchered off with a thigh injury, Benayoun limped off with a calf injury while Kakuta was substituted at half-time with a back problem.
Ancelotti confirmed that Kalou and Benayoun were due to have scans this morning but are likely to miss “the next few games”.
If Lampard is absent against City, new £17 million midfielder Ramires, a disappointment against Newcastle, is likely to step into the breach once again.
Another alternative would have been to push Florent Malouda back into central midfield but Kalou’s absence means the Frenchman will probably be stationed on the left of a front three.
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