The FC panel look ahead at Chelsea's fixture list and examine the impact Alvaro Morata's hamstring injury may have on the team. Mark Ogden chats with Alison Bender outside Stamford Bridge after Manchester City's convincing 1-0 victory over Chelsea. Alvaro Morata was subbed off for Chelsea with an apparent leg injury.
Chelsea will not know the full extent of Alvaro Morata's hamstring injury until he returns to Cobham for further assessment later this week, sources have told ESPN FC.
Morata limped out of Chelsea's 1-0 defeat to Manchester City on Saturday after just 35 minutes, with Antonio Conte revealing that his striker had requested to come off in order to avoid further aggravating a "muscular problem" but adding that he did not expect it to be a serious injury.
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Spain confirmed on Monday that Morata had suffered a "Grade II myofascial" hamstring injury after carrying out an MRI scan, replacing the 24-year-old with Aritz Aduriz in Julen Lopetegui's squad for their final two World Cup qualifiers against Albania and Israel.
Chelsea are carrying out their own tests on Morata -- who could reportedly be sidelined for four to eight weeks if the diagnosis of his national team's medical staff proves correct -- but the striker is still in Spain, meaning no update on his condition is expected until he comes back to London later this week.
Morata has made a spectacular start to his Chelsea career, scoring eight goals in nine appearances in all competitions to immediately fill the attacking void left by Diego Costa, who finalised a move back to Atletico Madrid last month after a protracted and acrimonious saga.
The absence of Morata may force Conte to turn to Michy Batshuayi, who has scored five goals this season but was left on the substitutes' bench until the 73rd minute against City. Eden Hazard is also considered a viable option to be deployed as a false nine at the head of Chelsea's attack.
Liam is ESPN FC's Chelsea correspondent. Follow him on Twitter: @Liam_Twomey.
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Source: espn.co.uk