With the recent international break finished, the Premier League returns on Saturday afternoon, and Chelsea travel to Leicester looking to make it three wins in a row in the league.
Chelsea will be hoping for a quick resumption of their league form, especially since the Blues embark on a tricky period in September where they will face two matches in the Champions League and Arsenal and Manchester City in the league.
The good news for Chelsea is that Eden Hazard is once again available for selection. The Belgian missed all of preseason and the first three matches of the Premier League after suffering an ankle fracture while on international duty with Belgium this past June.
Hazard was named in the Belgium squad during this last international break and featured in both matches, registering a goal and an assist, and his return should provide a boost for Antonio Conte’s side.
Hazard’s return means that all players are available for selection against Leicester, including new signings Davide Zappacosta and Danny Drinkwater, who could make his debut appearance for Chelsea against his former side Leicester.
Leicester themselves are also fully fit, though Robert Huth and Vicente Iborra are unlikely to feature as they have just recovered from injuries.
But Kelechi Iheanacho is again available for manager Craig Shakespeare after recovering from a toe injury that has ruled him out for the last two matches, and new signing Aleksandar Dragovic could make his debut for the club after arriving on deadline day.
As for the match itself, Leicester are a much trickier proposition at home than they are away from the King Power Stadium.
League defeats to both Arsenal and Manchester United took place away from home, though the Foxes fell to Arsenal by two late goals and gave United a few troubles at Old Trafford in the last matchweek.
However, Chelsea’s record at Leicester is a very good one, winning five of their last six matches at the King Power Stadium and defeating the Foxes 3-0 in the corresponding fixture last season.
The Blues will hope that trend continues by putting another three points in the bag to build some momentum before the fixtures begin coming thick and fast as the Champions League and the Carabao Cup begin over the next two weeks.
