Danny Drinkwater set to miss Qarabag clash as wait for Chelsea debut goes on

Injury blow: Danny Drinkwater
Chelsea FC via Getty Images
Vaishali Bhardwaj11 September 2017

Danny Drinkwater is unlikely to be given his Chelsea debut against Qarabag because of injury although Eden Hazard could start the Champions League game on Tuesday, according to Antonio Conte.

Chelsea signed Drinkwater from Leicester on transfer deadline day, but he did not feature as the Premier League champions secured a 2-1 win over the Foxes on Saturday.

Conte confirmed on Monday that Drinkwater has now sustained a calf injury, which could rule him out of Chelsea's Champions League Group C game at Stamford Bridge.

Conte told reporters: "Only one news and yesterday Danny Drinkwater had a muscular problem in his calf. We're waiting to check the problem. Only this."

Hazard, meanwhile, could play a part in the game against Qarabag after the winger was brought on in the second half of Chelsea's win over Leicester.

The Belgian had not featured for Chelsea this season prior to the trip to the King Power Stadium following ankle surgery and, despite looking fit when training at Cobham on Monday, Conte said he did not want to take any "stupid" risks with his return from injury.

"Eden Hazard is in the group, is in the squad, and he is working very well to find the best physical condition. He needs a bit of time to continue to improve and to avoid to take stupid risks with him. But now he's available and he will come on the bench," Conte said.

In Pictures | Leicester vs Chelsea | 09/09/2017

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"Eden last season played an amazing season. He's a top player and we're looking forward to have him in our team, in our squad. I think Eden is an important player for us, but for sure in this period we played without him and we were forced to play without him because of injury. We tried to win every game."

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