Forward Eden Hazard is set to start for Chelsea for the first time this season in Wednesday night's Carabao Cup clash with Nottingham Forest.

Defender David Luiz is suspended for three games and winger Pedro is unlikely to be risked due to a leg injury, while midfielder Danny Drinkwater (calf) is also absent.

Striker Michy Batshuayi could start, with young players Charly Musonda and Kenedy also expected to be given first-team opportunities in a rotated squad.

"Now is the right moment for Eden to start the game and try to play the whole game," said Antonio Conte.

Eden Hazard will start for Chelsea (
Image:
Getty)

"I hope for him it is the final step from his injury. We have managed his situation very well. In my career I was injured a lot of times, and I have a bit of experience about this. Now he is ready to start the game.

"Pedro has not been lucky this season. He started the season with a bad injury in the Arsenal friendly game where he broke a bone in his face, and then he received a knock on his ankle, and now his leg. I hope for him to be luckier in the future.

Pedro is unlikely to feature (
Image:
Darren Walsh)

"Pedro is trying to recover from the last injury. It’s important for him also to work. Don’t forget when you are injured you can’t work, and sometimes you can lose your best physical condition. His last injury is nothing serious but he needs a bit of time to recover."

Provisional squad: Courtois, Caballero, Rudiger, Alonso, Fabregas, Kante, Morata, Hazard, Bakayoko, Moses, Kenedy, Musonda, Zappacosta, Willian, Batshuayi, Cahill, Christensen, Azpilicueta, Luiz, Clarke-Salter, Scott, Eduardo.

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