Morata misery

ANTONIO CONTE has admitted Chelsea striker Alvaro Morata could be out for the season. The Spaniard has been absent with a back injury since December 9 and has shown little sign of improvement since. And Conte, who is under pressure at the Blues following two heavy league defeats, confessed yesterday he had no idea when Morata (left) would be back.

The Chelsea boss said: “We are talking a lot about bad results, but sometimes we

forget we are facing a serious situation. Players like Morata are very important for us and have been missing for a long time. I don’t know how long he will be out.

“We are struggling a lot to find a solution to solve the pain in his back. If you ask me whether he needs a day, a month or the rest of the season, I don’t know.

“I’m a bit worried.You know very well the importance of the player.”

Conte said new signing Olivier Giroud is in contention to start against bottom club West Brom at Stamford Bridge on Monday – a game where another defeat is expected to see the end of the Italian’s reign.

He refused to be drawn on the wisdom of allowing striker Michy Batshuayi to join Borussia Dortmund on loan last month.

“We took a decision,” said Conte, who has hit out over the last few weeks about not being consulted over transfer policy.

“Now I think this is not important to say, ‘We could have done this’ or ‘We should have done that’.

“We have to focus on the present, to finish the season in the best way possible, and not to have regrets for anything.”