Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has called for "patience" as Eden Hazard continues his recovery from injury.

The Belgian playmaker has yet to start for the Blues this season after undergoing ankle surgery in the summer but has appeared from the bench in the club's last two fixtures, playing 12 minutes against Leicester City at the weekend and coming on for the last half-hour of their 6-0 demolition of Qarabag last night.

Conte's side next face bitter rivals Arsenal at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, and the Italian has suggested that he will once again start Hazard among the substitutes rather than risk starting him prematurely.

"I think with Eden, we must have a bit of patience with him, to try to give the possibility for Eden to recover very well and be totally fit," Conte told reporters.

"This is the right process for him. Don't forget, in the team there are two players like Pedro and Willian, who are playing very well.

"We must be pleased to see Eden in the team. Now we must have calm and do the best for the player and for the team.

"Otherwise we risk bad injury and delaying the situation. That's not good. This process is good for him."

Hazard was on the scoresheet in the same fixture last season as Conte's side ran out 3-1 winners.