Chelsea boss Antonio Conte has branded Michy Batshuayi 'a young player with great potential' and insisted that the Belgian international is firmly in his thoughts this season.

Batshuayi, 23, joined Chelsea from Marseille in the summer transfer window and has scored three times in six appearances for the English club in the early stages of the campaign.

Just one of those goals has come in the Premier League, however, and the striker has been forced to play second fiddle to Diego Costa since arriving in London.

Despite his lack of league action, Conte has said that he is 'very pleased' with the centre-forward's form this term.

"I think that Michy is a young player, but he has a great potential," Conte told reporters. "On the technical aspect he can grow a lot to become a fantastic player for Chelsea.

"I can also tell you that he is ready, he is ready to start. This season he has played from the start in two cup games and he played very, very well and I am pleased with him and that he stays with us."

Chelsea will continue their Premier League campaign at home to Leicester City on Saturday afternoon.