David Silva injury latest: Manchester City wait on scan in hope playmaker can return for Premier League run-in

City are still in contention to win the Premier League title

Manchester City will learn on Wednesday whether their hopes of overhauling Liverpool at the top of the Premier League table have suffered a crucial blow when influential midfielder David Silva undergoes a full scan to determine the severity of the injury he picked up on Monday.

After the Spain international was carried off during the 3-1 win over West Bromwich, City's manager, Manuel Pellegrini, said Silva had suffered a recurrence of an ankle injury which had been dogging him in recent weeks.

Today's scan will reveal whether the injury will rule Silva out for the remainder of the season, though even if it is not that serious he is almost certain to miss City's League trip to in-form Crystal Palace on Sunday.

Any absence could prove costly for Pellegrini's team, whose win over relegation-threatened Albion put them six points behind the leaders Liverpool with a game in hand. Such is Silva's influence in the City side – particularly in the continued absence of Yaya Touré – his involvement is widely believed to be crucial to City's slim hopes of overhauling Brendan Rodgers' men.

The City defender Pablo Zabaleta said: "We know how important David Silva is for the team. With him in the starting XI, it's different.

"He is the one who has everything. He simply makes us play better. Hopefully, we will see with his ankle it is not so bad. Fingers crossed, David will be back as soon as possible and fit for the next game."

West Bromwich also face an anxious wait to determine the fate of full-back Liam Ridgewell, who picked up a knee injury in the City match. His manager, Pepe Mel, said early indications were that the player could miss the rest of the season.

PA