Loic Remy injury: Chelsea striker hoping to be fit in time for Manchester United on Sunday

French striker hoping the groin strain he picked up in 6-0 win is 'not too bad'

Loic Remy suffers his groin injury against Maribor (Getty Images)

Loic Remy hopes the groin injury he picked up during Chelsea’s 6-0 win over Maribor on Tuesday night is “not too bad”, as he awaits a scan to reveal the extent of the damage.

The French striker opened the scoring for the Blues in the Group G match but was substituted just three minutes later, clearly in pain.

“We will see [the extent of the injury] tomorrow with the scan,” said Remy.

“I really hope it is not too bad. Fortunately I stopped playing because I felt something. I don’t think it is too bad but I felt something.”

Remy appeared to hurt himself while scoring his second goal for Jose Mourinho's team but confirmed that he had picked up the injury before the well placed left-footed shot.

“No before [the goal], it was a bit stiff, even my run and I didn’t feel very comfortable,” he added. “That’s why I prefer to come off, but for me I have to care about myself and if I’m not feeling very good it’s better to leave [for] another player who is 100 per cent.”

The 27-year-old has seen his first-team opportunities limited so far due to the sensational start of Diego Costa. Remy impressed in his first Premier League start for the Blues against Crystal Palace on Saturday, just one of three starts this season including last night, and was mooted to be in the first XI against Manchester United on Sunday as Costa continues to battle a niggling hamstring injury.

If the injury is worse than Remy claims then Mourinho could be forced to start 36-year-old Didier Drogba at Old Trafford. The Ivorian came on for Remy and scored a penalty for the Blues against Maribor, his 158th for the club and first since scoring in to help win the 2012 Champions League final.

Remy revealed he is frustrated by the setback but is still confident of being fit in time for Sunday's match.

“Yes it’s frustrating, of course, because I had a chance to play [against United] because Costa is injured, but I am not afraid. I don’t think it is really bad.

“We will check tomorrow and I really hope to play again this weekend.”

With Manchester United still struggling to fully find their form, unbeaten Chelsea enter the match as the bookies’ favourites to pick up three points.

Remy had already hurt himself before opening the scoring (AP)

Remy added: “It is a huge game but every game is tough. Especially this one because it is a big game against a good opponent, but I will try to recover as quickly as possible.”

The striker, signed from Queens Park Rangers for £10.5m at the end of the summer transfer window, arrived at Stamford Bridge knowing he would have to play second fiddle to £32m Costa. Remy says he hasn’t found it frustrating despite starting just three of the eight games he’s been available for.

“When I came in Chelsea I knew there is a team so I can’t come and play [straight away], so I was waiting. This kind of situation can happen, someone gets injured and you take his place, so for me I was very happy and tried to do my best every game I can play.”

Being a member of the supporting cast is a new experience for Remy, who was the main man at Nice, Marseilles, QPR and on loan at Newcastle last season, where he scored an impressive 14 Premier League goals; but the striker says it’s “not difficult”.

“ For me I have more motivation like that because I know I have to work more than the other players to have a chance to play so for me it is just motivation and that is why I work hard every day at training to show the manager that I can play and sore.

“Of course [there is pressure to score in every game], I am in a big club so every game I want to score but I don’t put stupid pressure on me, I just want to give my best every game.

Jose Mourinho will have to decide which striker to play at Old Trafford (Getty Images)

“Even if I am not scoring I want to give assist or help the team as much as possible with my runs. I don’t put pressure [on myself] but I know I have to score because Diego is a good striker and scoring a lot of goals so if I can help the team I do it.”

Remy also believes Chelsea can win the Champions League but have to take it a game at a time.

“I think we can win the Champions League,” he said, “but we take it game after game and have enough quality to win the Champions League. But the way is really long so [taking it] game after game will be better.