Chelsea Team News: Hiddink Hopes To Have Star Man Back For Arsenal Clash

Chelsea will look to climb up the Premier League table when they entertain Everton at Stamford Bridge on Saturday afternoon.

Ahead of the game, interim boss Guus Hiddink has been speaking to the media at his pre-match press conference this afternoon and has offered a team news and injury update.

The Dutchman confirmed a double blow with the news that Eden Hazard is still unavailable for selection while Radamel Falcao also remains on the sidelines through injury.

Hazard has missed Chelsea’s last two games against Scunthorpe and West Brom after being forced off with a groin injury during the 3-0 victory over Crystal Palace at the start of the month.

There were hopes that the Belgian international could be back in contention to face Everton tomorrow, however, Hiddink has confirmed the attacker remains on the sidelines as he’s still short of fitness.

However, Hazard is expected to resume full training at some point next week and Hiddink is hopeful his star man will then put himself back in the frame for the trip to Arsenal next weekend.

The interim boss also confirmed that Falcao will miss the Everton game as the Colombian international continues to find his way back to full fitness following a niggling thigh injury.

The Blues boss told Chelseafc.com:

‘There were no injuries in the last game,’ said Hiddink.

‘The only one who is not available yet is Eden Hazard although he is on the pitch working. I hope in the upcoming week he will have full training sessions and then we can decide if he can join us for the Arsenal game next weekend.

‘Falcao is out too, we knew that. The rest are okay.’

Chelsea head in to the weekend action sitting fourteenth in the Premier League table and a full 12 points adrift of the top four so they’ll be desperate to pick up all three points tomorrow in order to keep alive any slim hopes of qualifying for the Champions League.