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Chelsea head coach Antonio Conte has confirmed Danny Drinkwater will play no part in the Sunday's London derby against Arsenal after sustaining a calf injury. The England international is unlikely to make his debut for the Blues until after the international break.
Drinkwater linked up with the Premier League champions on transfer deadline day after they agreed on a £35m fee with Leicester City. He had previously been carrying a minor groin problem prior to his move, and he has now suffered another injury setback.
In a report covered by BBC Sport, Conte said: "He had a muscular problem in his calf. He needs time to recover. I think it is very difficult to see him before the international break. It is a pity because he was starting to work and to improve his physical condition. Now we have to move all these situations. And in two, three weeks, four weeks, I don't know."
Drinkwater's absence will not have a major say on the next couple of games as the likes of Tiemoue Bakayoko, Cesc Fabregas and N'Golo Kante have fared well since the start of the season.
Conte is expected to opt for the physical presence of Bakayoko and Kante on Sunday afternoon, and this will likely see Fabregas benched after starting the last three outings across all competitions.
Written by Sri Aswin
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