Chelsea to miss deadline day signing Danny Drinkwater due to injury

Bengaluru, September 12: Chelsea’s deadline day signing Danny Drinkwater is unlikely to make his debut against Qarabag due to an injury, but Belgian star Eden Hazard could start the Champions League game on Tuesday (September 12), according to manager Antonio Conte.

Chelsea signed Drinkwater from Leicester on transfer deadline day and he is yet to feature for the Premier League champions. He was an unused sub in the weekend's 2-1 win over the Foxes but it appears that the Englishman has suffered yet another minor injury.

Conte confirmed on Monday (September 11) that Drinkwater has now sustained a calf injury, which could rule him out of Chelsea's Champions League Group C game against Qarabag 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."

Eden 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 the best player of the club.

"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.

"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."