Chelsea manager Antonio Conte is pinning his hopes on David Luiz playing against Atletico Madrid in the Uefa Champions League next week even though the defender has a broken wrist.
Luiz sustained the injury in Sunday's goalless draw with Arsenal when he clattered into the advertising hoardings at the end of the first half.
The Brazil defender continued in the second half until he was dismissed after 87 minutes for a reckless tackle on Sead Kolasinac which resulted in a three-game suspension.
Luiz missed Wednesday's 5-1 League Cup win over Nottingham Forest and will also be ineligible for the Premier League clashes with Stoke and table-topping Manchester City.
But Conte, whose side beat Qarabag 6-0 in their opening Group C match in the Champions League, expects Luiz to play at Atletico next Wednesday.
"He must be OK," Conte said. "David is an important player for us. For sure he will be ready for the game against Atletico Madrid."
In Luiz's absence, Chelsea's youngsters impressed against Championship side Forest.
Michy Batshuayi scored a hat-trick while Kenedy and the impressive Charly Musonda were also on target for Chelsea. Tendayi Darikwa scored a late consolation.
Eden Hazard made his first start of the season after suffering a broken ankle.
Conte suggested he could field a similar squad in the fourth round of the League Cup against Everton.
"We are a great club, for this reason every competition is important to us," he said. "If we answer like this tonight, why not continue to give the opportunity to these players?"
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Tips on buying property during a pandemic
Islay Robinson, group chief executive of mortgage broker Enness Global, offers his advice on buying property in today's market.
While many have been quick to call a market collapse, this simply isn’t what we’re seeing on the ground. Many pockets of the global property market, including London and the UAE, continue to be compelling locations to invest in real estate.
While an air of uncertainty remains, the outlook is far better than anyone could have predicted. However, it is still important to consider the wider threat posed by Covid-19 when buying bricks and mortar.
Anything with outside space, gardens and private entrances is a must and these property features will see your investment keep its value should the pandemic drag on. In contrast, flats and particularly high-rise developments are falling in popularity and investors should avoid them at all costs.
Attractive investment property can be hard to find amid strong demand and heightened buyer activity. When you do find one, be prepared to move hard and fast to secure it. If you have your finances in order, this shouldn’t be an issue.
Lenders continue to lend and rates remain at an all-time low, so utilise this. There is no point in tying up cash when you can keep this liquidity to maximise other opportunities.
Keep your head and, as always when investing, take the long-term view. External factors such as coronavirus or Brexit will present challenges in the short-term, but the long-term outlook remains strong.
Finally, keep an eye on your currency. Whenever currency fluctuations favour foreign buyers, you can bet that demand will increase, as they act to secure what is essentially a discounted property.
