Unfamiliar faces in Chelsea training as Sarri looks for answers to midfield injury crisis
CHELSEA have been forced to call up some fringe players into their first-team squad due to an injury crisis ahead of the Europa League final against Arsenal tonight (8pm).
Chelsea: N'Golo Kante joins squad for Europa League training
Maurizio Sarri is sweating on the fitness of N’Golo Kante ahead of the showpiece final against Arsenal in Baku, Azerbaijan.
The Frenchman missed Chelsea’s Premier League run-in due to a hamstring injury and then suffered a knee problem during training last weekend, hampering his recovery.
Meanwhile, Ruben Loftus-Cheek is definitely out after rupturing his Achilles tendon in the friendly clash with New England Revolution earlier this month.
And in order to provide some cover for his senior players, the Italian has called up a couple of unfamiliar names into his travelling squad.
Academy Player of the Year Conor Gallagher has made the trip to Azerbaijan while George McEachran was also added to the squad late and has now flown out for the final.
The duo are registered to compete in the competition, with McEachran having been added to the ‘B’ List for the final group stage match against MOL Vidi.
Chelsea youngsters Conor Gallagher and George McEachran have travelled to Baku (Image: GETTY)
Gallagher was named Academy Player of the Season for the current campaign (Image: REUTERS)
Danny Drinkwater would have been a further option for Sarri, although the midfielder hasn’t trained with the first team for weeks.
Luis appeared to throw an elbow in the direction of his team-mate after a robust challenge, with the flare-up continuing as Higuain pursued the defender for an explanation.
Sarri appeared so disgusted with his players that he stormed off the field, hurling his cap to the ground and kicking it as he marched towards the tunnel.
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McEachran was called up to the squad due to doubts over N'Golo Kante's fitness (Image: REUTERS)
The duo took part in a fractious training session which saw a flare up between Luiz and Higuain (Image: REUTERS)
The Italian quickly picked it up, only to throw it down again and boot it with even more force in a shocking outburst.
Sarri is under pressure to deliver his first silverware as Chelsea manager, despite masterminding a third-place finish in the Premier League.