Eden Hazard will sit out Chelsea’s Carabao Cup fourth-round match against Derby County on Wednesday but could return against Crystal Palace on Sunday. The Belgium international missed the Europa League victory over BATE and the Premier League win against Burnley due to a back injury.
Chelsea assistant coach Gianfranco Zola expects the 27-year-old to return to full training this week, potentially making him an option for the visit of the Eagles.
Zola also suggested that Pedro and Olivier Giroud could miss out. According to him, Pedro has had a stomach ache while Giroud has a little fatigue problem with one of the legs.
The meeting with Derby will see Chelsea’s all-time leading goalscorer Frank Lampard return to the Stamford Bridge in the opposition dugout. Zola had no doubt Lampard would be a successful manager, with Derby having knocked Manchester United out in the previous round and sitting sixth in the Championship
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