Chelsea’s Antonio Conte worried by Álvaro Morata’s struggle to recover

• Manager does not know how long striker will be absent
• Álvaro Morata a doubt for Champions League ties with Barcelona

Antonio Conte has admitted serious concerns over when Álvaro Morata will be fit to return from a troublesome back injury and cast doubt over the Spaniard’s involvement in Chelsea’s Champions League ties against Barcelona.

The club record signing, who cost an initial £58m from Real Madrid last summer and has scored 10 goals in 20 Premier League appearances, first complained of discomfort more than three weeks ago and has not featured since being sent off in extra time in the FA Cup third-round replay against Norwich in mid-January. Chelsea’s medical staff continue to explore different ways to treat the pain but Morata has failed to respond to the treatment.

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