Alvaro Morata loses battle to be fit for Chelsea’s Premier League clash at Crystal Palace this weekend
Spanish striker has a grade two hamstring strain but was hoping to recover in time to face the Premier League strugglers
ALVARO MORATA has lost his battle to be fit for Chelsea's Premier League clash at Crystal Palace on Saturday.
Morata has a grade two hamstring tear but claimed he would be able to recover in time for this weekend when the Premier League resumes after the international break.
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He even Tweeted he had his sights set on the trip to Selhurst Park to face the struggling Eagles.
But the injury has not healed as quickly as the player hoped and he is now setting his sights on returning for next week's Champions League match at home to Italians Roma.
Morata will be starting light running in the next few days but it is highly unlikely Chelsea boss Antonio Conte will risk the £60 million striker against the division's bottom club so soon.
Chelsea are also trying to patch up Morata's team-mate N'Golo Kante who suffered a similar knock while playing for France against Bulgaria.
Kante is yet to report to the club training ground to have the extent of his problem assessed.
Morata's absence means Conte now has a selection dilemma for the weekend.
When Morata limped off against Manchester City ten days ago Conte brought on winger Willian in his place - leaving second choice striker Michy Batshuayi on the bench until the second half.
Conte may opt to play Eden Hazard as a striker for one game in Morata's absence instead.
