Antonio Conte has confirmed that Eden Hazard is in the Chelsea squad to face Leicester this weekend after recovering from an ankle fracture.
The attacking midfielder has not featured for the Blues since last season after picking up an injury while on international duty with Belgium.
After coming on as a substitute for his country this week, though, Conte has confirmed he is fit and ready to return for Chelsea.
‘Eden is available, and he is in the list for the game tomorrow,’ the Chelsea boss told reporters.
‘I think he is improving a lot, and he worked very strong to be ready.
‘I think now I can count on him, but I have to decide the right moment and the right minutes. For sure, he is available now.
‘It’s normal [to be careful] when there is a surgery. It’s normal to pay attention to his recovery. Don’t forget, Eden is an important player for us. It’s important to play soon.’
It was a good international break for Chelsea as everyone returned healthy, giving Conte a full strength squad to choose from.
Provisional squad:
Courtois, Caballero, Rudiger, Alonso, Kante, Fabregas, Drinkwater, Pedro, Bakayoko, Moses, Willian, Hazard, Batshuayi, Morata, Azpilicueta, Luiz, Christiansen, Kenedy, Tomori, Musonda, Boga, Scott, Zappacosta.
Leicester have lost 11 of their last 13 games against Chelsea in all competitions, with their only two non-defeats in that time coming in the 2015-16 Premier League season (W1 D1).
Chelsea have won five of their last six away matches against the Foxes (L1), scoring at least three goals in all of those victories, including two last season (4-2 in the League Cup, 3-0 in the Premier League).
The Foxes have only kept one home Premier League clean sheet against Chelsea in 11 matches against them, with Pegguy Arphexad the goalkeeper to do so in February 1998.
Chelsea haven’t won away from home in the month of September in any of the last four Premier League seasons (W0 D4 L3). Last season they drew 2-2 at Swansea before losing 0-3 at Arsenal in September 2016.
However, Antonio Conte’s side have won 13 of their last 17 Premier League away games (W13 D2 L2) and have only failed to score in two of these trips.
Cesc Fabregas has been involved in six goals in four starts against Leicester for Chelsea in all competitions, scoring three and assisting three – against no side has he been involved in more goals for Chelsea.
Alvaro Morata has scored two goals and assisted two more in his three Premier League appearances so far. The players with the most goal involvements within their first four PL apps for Chelsea are Diego Costa (7), Cesc Fabregas (6) and Eden Hazard (5).
