Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri wants Eden Hazard to have complete freedom on the pitch.
The 27-year-old Belgium playmaker has been deployed as a ‘false nine’ for the last two Premier League games – wins over holders Manchester City and at Brighton – and is set to feature in the position again against Leicester.
Sarri said: “There isn’t the best position for Hazard. Hazard is a wonderful player with a very high level of imagination.
“He needs to be let free on the pitch.”
Hazard also played as a ‘false nine’ under previous boss Antonio Conte and later expressed his frustrations, but it appears to be different under Sarri.
“He told me that he likes very much to play there,” Sarri added.
Sarri also spoke highly of former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho, who was sacked by Manchester United this week.
Asked if the Portuguese would be missed in the Premier League, the Blues boss replied: “I think so. Mourinho won everything, won everywhere so I like him very much as a coach and as a man.”
Chelsea injury news – Who is out?
Alvaro Morata returned to training after a knee injury but is not expected to be fit to start.
As mentioned, Sarri could again choose to use Hazard as a false nine.
Andreas Christensen is the only injury concern with a hamstring problem.
Meanwhile, David Luiz, N’Golo Kante, Jorginho and Marcos Alonso are expected to return to the starting line-up.