Danny Drinkwater trains with Chelsea international outcasts at Cobham base as Antonio Conte returns from holiday to lead group that includes David Luiz

• e-mail

Danny Drinkwater has begun his preparations for an immediate return to Leicester City by joining up with his new Chelsea team-mates in training.

Manager Antonio Conte led a stripped-down group through a session at Chelsea's Cobham training base on Monday in the absence of their stars on international duty.

The Premier League champions face a trip to Leicester's King Power Stadium on Saturday, a game which poses an immediate reunion for their new £30million midfielder.

Chelsea's new £30million midfielder Danny Drinkwater is training with his new team-mates

Drinkwater competes for the ball with fellow summer signing Tiemoue Bakayoko at Cobham

The former Leicester City midfielder faces a reunion with his former club on Saturday

Antonio Conte was back at Chelsea's Cobham base after a brief break from training duties

Drinkwater left Leicester for Chelsea on deadline day as his transfer saga finally came to an end when his former club secured the services of his replacement, Adrien Silva from Sporting Lisbon.

In Monday's session, the 27-year-old joined David Luiz, Tiemoue Bakayoko, Cesc Fabregas, Marcos Alonso, Baba Rahman, Charly Musonda, Eduardo, Willy Caballero and a smattering of academy youngsters as Conte got his players back into the groove after a short break.

The Blues' other deadline-day signing, full back Davide Zappacosta, is yet to join his team-mates after receiving a late call-up to Italy's squad ahead of their game against Israel on Tuesday night.

Rahman, who has not been named in Chelsea's Premier League or Champions League squads, is expected to leave the club on loan in January after returning to fitness following a serious knee injury. Schalke and Galatasaray have shown interest.

Meanwhile, Drinkwater has sent a farewell message to Leicester supporters after ending his five-year spell at the club.

The midfielder, who won the title in the Foxes' historic charge to the Premier League summit last year, said the taste for success he got in 2016 led him to believe a move to Stamford Bridge was right for him.

Cesc Fabregas is challenged by Marcos Alonso among the players not picked for internationals

Eden Hazard's brother Kylian, who has joined Chelsea's Under 23s, was also part of the session

David Luiz is challenged by Jake Clarke-Salter while the majority of Chelsea's stars are away

'It was hard decision to leave, but it felt like the time was right,' Drinkwater said.

'When you get a taste for what we achieved together, it's addictive, you want to experience it as much as you can and this felt like my chance to chase that.

'You don't know when an opportunity like that might come along again, so for me I had to take it.'

Baba Rahman, who is expected to be sent on loan in January, darts away from Kyle Scott