Chelsea team news: Morata to miss out for fourth successive game

Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has revealed Alvaro Morata will miss out for a fourth successive match with a back injury.

The 25-year-old served a one-match ban before missing each of Chelsea’s last three matches after a reoccurrence of a back problem that has troubled him his entire career.

Conte’s side signed Olivier Giroud from Arsenal on deadline day but look set to go without a recognised striker away to Watford on Monday night.

“Morata is still out, we hope to be able to solve his situation, but he has a problem in his back and is missing a lot of games, it is not a good situation for me or for team,” The Daily Mail quote Conte as saying on Friday.

“Giroud has had a muscular injury, he could only play for 15 minutes for Arsenal against Swansea. We want players in the best physical condition, and to work with them so we are happy and they are happy with our football.

Chelsea have only won two of their last nine matches in all competitions and Conte has already conceded they face a real fight to even finish in the top-four this season.

The defending Premier League champions slipped to a shock 3-0 defeat at home to Bournemouth on Wednesday but should manage to overcome a Watford side on the slide at the moment.

In fact, no team has won fewer Premier League points since the start of December than Watford (6), while Chelsea rank fourth in that time (21 points).

Morata was in a real slump prior to injury, netting just twice in his last 681 minutes of action. With Morata sidelined and Olivier Giroud expected to start from the bench, it will mean Eden Hazard will occupy a false nine position at Vicarage Road.

Hazard started through the middle on seven occasions this season, playing a direct hand in four goals in that time (three goals, one assist).