Football

Conte: I am not sure if Morata will play again

Published

8 years ago

February 9, 2018

By Boluwatife Ezekiel Olaleye

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.

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.”