The Blues boss is expecting his Real Madrid loanee to be available for at least a 30-minute cameo in a London debry at Stamford Bridge on Saturday
Mateo Kovacic is likely to make his Chelsea debut off the bench when Arsenal visit Stamford Bridge in the Premier League on Saturday.
The Croatia midfielder was not involved in last weekend’s 3-0 win at Huddersfield Town after signing on loan from Real Madrid on deadline day.
Cesc Fabregas also sat out the opening weekend and will miss the Arsenal match with a minor, “unusual” injury close to his knee.
His unavailability coupled with the midweek loan departure of Tiemoue Bakayoko to AC Milan means Maurizio Sarri is set to call on Kovacic.
“I think Mateo will be very useful for us. He’s a very technical player,” Sarri told reporters.
“In this moment he has to work. I think he’s not ready now for 90 minutes, but maybe tomorrow for 30 minutes he could be used.
“I think he can play in any of the three positions in midfield. He’s a very good offensive player, but he has improved in the defensive phase in the last two years in Madrid.
“I expect a lot from him because, for me, he’s a very great player. In my opinion, he can improve more.”