England midfielder Danny Drinkwater’s Chelsea debut has been delayed until October by a calf injury.
Drinkwater was an unused substitute against his former club Leicester last Saturday and missed the midweek Champions League win over Qarabag of Azerbaijan.
Chelsea manager Antonio Conte said: ‘He had a muscular problem in his calf. I think it’s very difficult to see him before the international break. He needs time to recover.
‘It’s 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 joined on transfer deadline day for a reported fee of £35million to be reunited with former Leicester team-mate N’Golo Kante. The midfield pair were key in the Foxes’ 2015-16 surprise title win.
