By Clare Lovell

LONDON, Oct 15 (Reuters) Chelsea, whose two goalkeepers were knocked unconscious yesterday, may have to field third-choice Portuguese Hilario in their biggest game of the season so far against Barcelona on Wednesday.

Chelsea's Premier League game against Reading had barely started before Petr Cech had to be carried off after a sliding Stephen Hunt caught the Czech keeper in the head with his knee.

Manager Jose Mourinho said Cech was lucky to be alive.

He called on the FA to investigate Hunt's challenge. ''To be angry doesn't help. I'm just waiting...what the FA will do about it,'' he said.

Cech's Italian substitute Carlo Cudicini clattered to the ground after colliding with Reading's Ibrahima Sonko in injury time and was carried off with his neck braced.

Chelsea held on to win 1-0 with captain John Terry in goal.

Ambulances took both concussed keepers to hospital and Cech was kept in overnight. Cudicini was discharged after treatment.

The English champions face Spanish and European title holders Barcelona at home for the third season in a row on Wednesday in the Champions League's most high-profile group game.

Hilario, 31 next Saturday, joined Chelsea on a free transfer last June from Portuguese side Nacional.

He was a Porto youth product and worked with Mourinho during his successful UEFA Cup and Champions League winning spell there but rarely made the first team, playing second fiddle to Vitor Baia.

He has yet to make an appearance for Chelsea's first team.

When Mourinho signed his lofty 1.89 metre compatriot, the Chelsea manager said: ''Hilario is everything we need,'' and the keeper replied that he intended to work hard and make squad selection difficult for his manager. ''I want to complicate his life,'' he said.

Chelsea could also still be without England full back Ashley Cole, who limped through the last 15 minutes of England's 2-0 defeat in Croatia last Wednesday and was replaced by Wayne Bridge against Reading.

REUTERS AY HT1710