Antonio Conte confirms Eden Hazard will start Chelsea's EFL Cup tie against Nottingham Forest

Eden Hazard will start for Chelsea for the first time this season in Wednesday's League Cup third-round tie with Nottingham Forest.

The Belgium playmaker suffered a broken ankle in June and has made three substitute appearances for the Blues in the last 10 days.

Chelsea head coach Antonio Conte said: "For Eden now is the right moment to start the game and to try to play the whole game."

Hazard recently said Conte improved him within a week of his appointment in a comment which many interpreted as a slight on Jose Mourinho, rather than praise for Chelsea's Italian boss.

Conte wants all his players to improve and says Hazard can get even better.

"He can continue to improve a lot in his career and to become one of the best," Conte said.

Conte is likely to rotate his options for the League Cup clash and has with some enforced absences.

David Luiz is suspended fr the first of three games after his dismissal against Arsenal and will also be absent from the Premier League games with Stoke and Manchester City.

Chelsea will not appeal against the duration of the sanction, which was automatically three games when Luiz was shown a straight red card for his challenge on Arsenal's Sead Kolasinac.

"It's important to move on," Conte said.

The Brazil defender will be eligible for the September 27 clash at Atletico Madrid, the back drop of which will focus on absent striker Diego Costa.

Costa is agitating for a return to Atletico, but Chelsea on Tuesday declined to comment on reports in Spain that a deal for the Brazil-born Spain striker was close.

Pedro is a major doubt with a leg injury, having played at the start of the season in a protective face mask and also recently recovered from an ankle injury.

Conte said: "This season is not lucky for Pedro."