Hazard set for 'false nine' role

Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri is contemplating deploying Eden Hazard as a "false nine" for a third straight Premier League game to set him "free".

The Blues, fourth in the Premier League, play Leicester on Saturday, after beating champions Manchester City and then Brighton without fielding a recognised striker in the starting line-up.

Olivier Giroud played the full game as Chelsea beat Bournemouth in the League Cup on Wednesday, when Hazard came off the bench to score the decisive goal. Alvaro Morata returned to training on Thursday following a knee injury.

"There isn't the best position for Hazard," Sarri said on Friday. "Hazard is a wonderful player, with a very high level of imagination. He needs to be let free on the pitch.

"I think there isn't the right position for him. We need to have a very high level of organisation based on his movements."