Antonio Conte reveals Alvaro Morata fear as Chelsea boss admits Spanish striker may not play again this season

Antonio Conte has no idea if Alvaro Morata will play again this season - but has refuted suggestions he should have kept Michy Batshuayi during January.

The Chelsea boss allowed Belgian international Batshuayi to join Borussia Dortmund on loan on transfer deadline day, after landing Olivier Giroud from Arsenal.

Eden Hazard has recently deputised as the focal point of the attack, but Giroud is fit and set to start for the first time against West Brom on Monday night,.

However, it is the case of Morata that is proving most troubling to the Italian, who admits he has no clue whether the £59million striker will play again this season.


When will I see you, again? (Image: REUTERS)

Giroud is set to start against West Brom (Image: REUTERS)
Morata, 25, has scored 12 goals in 31 games since joining from Real Madrid last summer.

But he hasn’t featured since January 13, missing the Blues’ last four matches with a back problem.

Asked on Friday when the Spanish hitman will come back, Conte responded: "I don’t know. Players like Morata are missing for a lot of time and we're struggling a lot to find the solution to the pain in his back.

"If you ask me if [he will be out] one day, one month, the rest of the season, I don't know - and for this reason I am a bit worried as you know very well the importance of this player.”


Morata made an impressive start to the season (Image: Getty Images)

He hasn't featured since playing against Norwich (Image: Action Images via Reuters)

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Batshuayi struggled to impress the Italian during their time together at Stamford Bridge, rarely starting in the Premier League, but made an immediate splash on his debut in Germany, scoring twice.

However, Conte says that there is no point looking back.

“We took the decision and now this is not important to say, we could do this or the other,” he declared.

“Now we have to finish the season in the best possible way.”

Batshuayi scored twice on his Dortmund debut (Image: Alex Grimm/Bongarts/Getty Image)

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Conte’s side were called into training for the first time this week on Friday, having been handed three days off after the loss to Watford.

And Conte, hailed as “a police sergeant” by Juventus stalwart Giorgio Chiellini this week, admitted his players needed time off to recharge their batteries.

“I think it was the only moment in the whole season to give them a bit of rest.

“I think in the future it will be very important to have a little space and room with the federation to give a bit of room for the players. When you play a lot of games, especially when you go through in the competitions - we are playing in the FA Cup and two games against Norwich, then Champions League and the league.

“A bit of rest for the players is important."

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