- Chelsea host Nottingham Forest in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night
- Manager Antonio Conte looks set to hand Eden Hazard at start in the tie
- Charly Musonda will also be given an opportunity to impress against Forest
Chelsea manager Antonio Conte will unleash Eden Hazard in Wednesday’s clash with Nottingham Forest.
The Belgium international has made four substitute appearances for the Blues since recovering from ankle surgery in the summer.
And Conte, who confirmed Chelsea will not be appealing David Luiz’s red card from Sunday’s draw against Arsenal, says Hazard is now ready to make his first start of the season in the Carabao Cup game.
Chelsea star Eden Hazard looks set to ‘take the final step’ in his recovery from ankle injury
Chelsea manager Antonio Conte will unleash Hazard against Nottingham Forest in the EFL Cup
‘Yes, I think for Eden now is the right moment to start the game, and to try and play the whole game,’ Conte said.
‘I hope to be with him at the final step with the injury. I think we managed very well his situation. In my career, I was injured a lot of times.
‘Also I have a bit of experience about this situation. With him, we’re managing the situation very well. Now he’s ready to start the game and I hope to stay with him for the final step.’
Kenedy is also set to make his first appearance since being sent home from the club’s pre-season tour of China.
Kenedy is also set to make his first appearance since being sent from pre-season tour
The Brazilian has not played since making inappropriate social media posts, which Chelsea were forced to apologise for and saw the player given a formal warning by the FA.
‘I think he knows very well what happened in China. For sure, he made a mistake,’ added Conte.
‘But I think that everyone in their life can make a mistake. Now he’s focused, he’s working very well, he understood his mistake.
‘Now he’s ready. He’s ready to play and to show he deserves a space for the future.’