Chelsea captain John Terry available for Leicester clash - Antonio Conte
LONDON -- Chelsea head coach Antonio Conte has confirmed that captain John Terry is available to face Leicester City on Saturday.
Terry has recovered from strained ankle ligaments, but Conte refused to be drawn on whether the 35-year-old would be restored to his starting XI.
He suffered the injury in the final minute of Chelsea's 2-2 draw at Swansea City last month, with a "small setback" in training prior to the defeat at Arsenal delaying his recovery.
But Terry posted a picture of himself back in training at Cobham on Tuesday, and speaking at his Friday news conference Conte said: "Yes, he's available because he came back into training in the middle of the week to have the whole session. He has recovered from his injury."
Training today ⚽️ @chelseafc
A photo posted by John Terry (@johnterry.26) on
Chelsea conceded seven goals in three matches following Terry's injury but recorded only their second clean sheet of the season at Hull after Conte switched to a 3-4-3 system.
The Italian hinted that he would persist with the formation against the Premier League champions, but did not say whether Terry would be part of it.
"For the lineup, I'd prefer not to give it away today," he said. "I'll try to take the best decision for the team."
Conte said the change in formation had been needed "because it's not right that a great team like Chelsea conceded so many goals in the early games."
He added: "Now we are working, for me, in the right way, with a good idea which can get the best out of all the players in the squad.
"The central defenders must be very aggressive and go into the line to attack the strikers, and also be fast to cover the space.
"Tomorrow I have four central defenders [in the squad] and I have to take the decision for three [to play]. I will try to take the best decision. One must go on the bench."
At the other end of the pitch, Diego Costa will be looking to build on the blistering start that has seen him surge to the top of the Premier League scoring charts with six goals in seven matches.
But if the 28-year-old is booked against the Foxes he will incur a one-match suspension that would rule him out of Manchester United's visit to Stamford Bridge next weekend.
"We know the situation, Diego knows the situation," Conte said. "But tomorrow he must fight in the same way as in the previous games. I hope he pays attention and doesn't get another yellow card."
