Premier League Champions Chelsea will trade tackle with Crystal Palace, hoping to return to winning ways after their painful loss to rivals Manchester City in the last game day before the international break, but on a return to English Premier League football, we look at players Antonio Conte cannot rely on.
Antonio Conte’s men have some star players injured this early season, some hardship the Italian tactician did not endure in his first League season at the club.
The summer started with news on forward Eden Hazard after the Belgium international attacker was reportedly out with an ankle problem. Eden Hazard has now returned to the first team and is slowly regaining fitness ahead of the crunch games.
For midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko, the Frenchman signed from Monaco last summer began his Chelsea career on the wrong foot with a knee problem but has also since returned and being pivotal for Antonio Conte in matches he’s been relied on.
Another summer signing, Englishman Danny Drinkwater has rather remained sidelined, although an expected return date for him will be in a week or two.
The former Leicester man is one of the players the former Juventus tactician cannot count on for his team’s match against Crystal Palace this Saturday.
France international N’Golo Kante has been sidelined for the entire month of October with a muscular injury in his thigh and is certain to miss the match against the Eagles.
Striker Alvaro Morata gave optimistic impressions he may be back after the international break, but still, remains sidelined.
The former Real Madrid star will not be fit for his team’s match this weekend.
Baba Rahman’s long-term injury means he was not considered in Conte’s plans for the campaign and will miss the Palace match as well.
Antonio Conte, on the other hand, will have some of his quality players back to pick from as he tries to recover and challenge for the title.
