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Chelsea boss Antonio Conte has ruled David Luiz out to face Southampton due to injury but has hinted that Alvaro Morata, Danny Drinkwater and Michy Batshuayi will all be included in the match day squad, if not the starting line-up. Speaking ahead of the visit of the Saints to Stamford Bridge the Italian explained why the Brazilian would be out of action. Andreas Christensen is likely to continue to play as the leading figure at the back alongside Gary Cahill and Cesar Azpilicueta.
Drinkwater should be available to reinforce the midfield if required while Basthuayi and Morata will provide their team some extra firepower regardless of whether Eden Hazard continues to play as the lead striker, flanked by Pedro and Willian. The Blues were rampant in midweek against Huddersfield Town and won 3-1 despite taking to the field without a traditional centre-forward. Victor Moses, previously out injured, is now back in the squad and the preferred choice over Davide Zappacosta at right-back. In his pre-match press conference, Conte provided more detail on Luiz's situation. "David has a big inflammation in his knee and we are trying to solve this situation with the doctor," he said. "It's important to assess the situation day by day and to try solve this problem."
Unfortunately, the Chelsea manager is unable to put a date on his defender's return. "I don't know when he is able to come back with us, but for sure with the doctor and the medical department we are trying to solve the situation. The situation is inflammation in his knee. "For sure the player is working apart [from the main squad] in the last days was out to work in the pool and today he's been on the pitch trying to run a bit but very slow. It's a serious problem but we hope to solve this problem as soon as possible." He also admitted that Luiz is not happy about his inability to play for the Premier League champions amid rumours that he wishes to quit to join Manchester United or another suitor in January or the summer.
"I think every player is frustrated when they don't play especially when they have an injury. For sure there is frustration with the injury because every player wants to be in every training session and I understand because I was a player. "When I was injured my feeling was very bad. It was sad. You want to feel very well and then to be available for the competition, for the training session, and to be in contention for the competition. But injuries are part of their jobs." Morata is not yet 100% but will be fit enough play some part in the game if he is needed.
"He is better," said Conte. "He trained with us two days ago and today. He has this pain in his back but is in contention for tomorrow's game. "No new injuries, all my players are available for tomorrow's game."
Morata
Injury type: Back
Out since: December 9
Return date: December 16
What Conte has previously said: "Morata is out, because he’s a bit tired and there is a problem in his back. He is out."
Summary:
The Spaniard has already equalled his personal best for starts in a league season and is 162 minutes away from reaching his total for minutes played for Real Madrid in his final campaign in LaLiga. For that reason, Conte was cautious about rushing him back to face Huddersfield and claimed that he was tired and needed a rest before testing his back injury in a competitive fixture.
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