PREM: Newcastle v Chelsea preview

Newcastle v Chelsea preview

Eden Hazard could make his first Premier League start of the season as Chelsea travel to Newcastle on Sunday.

Manager Maurizio Sarri confirmed the Belgian is ready for more game time and could be in the starting XI this weekend.

He also reiterated his desire to keep the forward at the club, saying: "I think Eden is ready for 50 or 60 minutes, I don't know for 90 minutes, but he can start.

"I am the coach of a very good team, a very great club, and so I think with such an important player I cannot sell without the possibility to buy another player at the same level. So I think Eden will stay with us for the whole season."

Rafa Benitez and Sarri know each other well, with the Blues boss taking over from the Spaniard at Napoli and Benitez was full of praise for his counterpart.

"Chelsea are a top side with a very good manager. I know Sarri well from Italy. They are playing well and are dangerous. But we are confident our fans will be behind us and support us," he said.

"We have to get our approach right - to try and win, but make sure we play in the right way. He's quite clever and he said he'll need time, which is true. But he knew his team had quality & so I was expecting a good start. I think they will do well, but hopefully not this weekend!"

Centre-half Cahill has yet to figure for Sarri this season and could have to wait a bit longer, with the manager saying: "With Cahill I think at this moment for a defender it's more difficult to play in my team after only 20 days of training.

"I told him that he needs to be patient now but that he is very important for us."

DeAndre Yedlin has trained this week after being injured in the opening day loss to Tottenham and looks set to be involved, while Javier Manquillo - who replaced Yedlin against Cardiff - will be assessed.

Benitez also confirmed that some of the new summer signings are close to starting as they improve their fitness.