Diego Costa has reportedly not travelled with the Chelsea squad ahead of the Premier League leader’s trip to the King Power Stadium to face champions Leicester City.
Chelsea will look to get back to winning ways in the Premier League when they head to the King Power Stadium on Saturday evening to face reigning champions Leicester City, who currently sit in 15th place, 28 points behind Antonio Conte’s side.
The reverse tie ended in a comprehensive 3-0 win for Chelsea, and ahead of the crucial tie for the league leaders here’s a look at the team news for the Blues.
Antonio Conte has a big headache to deal with on Saturday, as late reports on Friday night revealed that star striker Diego Costa has not travelled with the squad to face Leicester City, after a bust up with the Chelsea boss earlier this week.
On injury news, he says he has to check on ‘a couple of situations’ before deciding his team for tomorrow. #CFC
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) January 13, 2017
Costa has not trained with the rest of the squad for the past three days, following an argument with the fitness coach over an injury, and it looks like the Spain international’s immediate future is under a cloud.
In Costa’s absence, Conte has a big decision to make. One of his options could be playing Eden Hazard as a false nine, with the Belgian excelling in the role in the resounding 3-0 win over Bournemouth last month.
Alternatively, Conte could choose to play Hazard in his regular left forward role, and finally hand the diminutive winger’s compatriot Michy Batshuayi his first start in the Premier League.
Other than the problem presented by the Costa row though, Conte has no pressing injury concerns on his hands, with John Terry the only other absentee due to suspension after the Chelsea captain was sent off in the FA Cup 3rd round win over Peterborough United last week.
Marcos Alonso is doubtful with a muscle injury but the wing-back is expected to shake off the problem to start against Leicester. In case Alonso isn’t passed fit, Nathan Ake, who was recalled from his loan at Bournemouth earlier this week, will be available to fill in and make an impression on Conte.
Conte is yet to decide if Ake will be involved tomorrow but says the first impression has been very good. #CFC
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) January 13, 2017
Conte welcomed Ake back into the Chelsea first team setup, and in his pre-match press conference said, “Ake is a good player, very young but with a good personality. He can play as a central defender, in the middle or on the left, he could play as a wing-back.”
Conte further revealed that Ake needs some time to adapt, but could be involved in the match against Leicester. “It’s important now to work with us. He’s trained with us only a few days. It’s important for him to have a bit of time to go into our idea of football and adapt, and then be under consideration.”
Meanwhile, N’Golo Kante is making a return to his former club for the first time since moving to Chelsea and the Frenchman is expected to have Cesc Fabregas for company in the centre of the park.
On the other hand, the hosts Leicester City have Jamie Vardy available again after the England striker served his three-match suspension, while Daniel Amartey (Ghana), Riyad Mahrez and Islam Slimani (both Algeria) are the absentees, away on national duty at the Africa Cup of Nations.
