Chelsea Injury Update: Chelsea vs Crystal Palace, Four Players out

English champions Chelsea are expected to be without four first-team players when they take on Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Saturday afternoon.

According to Goal.com, Alvaro Morata and N'Golo Kante are certainties to miss the London derby this weekend having sustained hamstring injuries over the past fortnight.

While Morata is said to be close to a Blues return, Kante has apparently suffered a muscle tear which could see him the best of six weeks. The Frenchman's absence is a significant blow as the Blues have relied on him to intercept play at important stages of games.

Summer signing Danny Drinkwater has yet to make his Blues' debut, and he remains doubtful with a calf injury sustained prior to the club's Champions League opener against Qarabag last month.

Another long-term absentee is Ghana international Baba Rahman, who could make his comeback from a knee injury in late November. The 23-year-old has not been included in the Blues' Premier League or Champions League squads, and his future is more or less away from Stamford Bridge.