Mateo Kovacic set for Chelsea debut against Arsenal as Maurizio Sarri prepares to hand star cameo

Mateo Kovacic is likely to be handed his Chelsea debut against Arsenal following his loan move from Real Madrid this summer.

The Croatia international is spending the 2018-19 campaign on loan at Chelsea after he expressed a desire to leave the Santiago Bernabeu because of a lack of game time last term.

Chelsea coach Maurizio Sarri is believed to want Kovacic to be a regular in his new three-man midfield alongside fellow summer signing Jorginho and N'Golo Kante.

And Sarri hinted he is ready to give Kovacic his first outing as a Chelsea player on Saturday when the Blues host their London rivals Arsenal at Stamford Bridge.

Speaking to reporters at Cobham, Sarri said: "I think Mateo will be very useful for us. He's a very technical player.

"In this moment, he has to work. I think he's not ready now for 90 minutes, but maybe, tomorrow, for the first 30 or the last 30 minutes he could be used.

"I expect a lot from him because, for me, he's a very great player. In my opinion, he can improve more."

Kovacic has been earmarked to play on the left of Sarri's three-man midfield, but the Chelsea coach believes the 24-year-old can also play on the right and centrally.

"I think he can play in any of the three positions in midfield," Sarri said.

"He's a very good offensive player, but he has improved in the defensive phase in the last two years in Madrid."

Meanwhile, Cesc Fabregas will be missing from Chelsea's squad on Saturday after he suffered an "unusual" injury that is not thought to be serious.

"Fabregas is out for this match," Sarri added.

"I hope he will be able to be on the pitch next week. I'm not sure. Nothing serious, but he has a very unusual injury. Nothing serious.

"I hope in the next week we will be able to have him training."