Antonio Conte: Chelsea striker Alvaro Morata is fit again and ready for 'important' final part of season

Vaishali Bhardwaj30 March 2018

Antonio Conte believes Alvaro Morata's lack of involvement with Spain over the international break has allowed the striker to re-discover his best form for Chelsea.

Morata was left out of Julen Lopetegui's Spain squad for friendlies against Germany and Argentina because of his poor form, which has seen the striker score just one goal in 2018.

The Chelsea players not involved with their nations were granted a few days off last week, which Morata used to holiday in Dubai.

And Conte admits the break has proved beneficial for the 25-year-old, who he says is now fully fit and raring to go at Chelsea.

"This period for Morata was very important," Conte told reporters at Cobham on Thursday.

"I think that, in the last week and this week, he has worked very well. I think that he needed to work hard because, don't forget, Alvaro was out for one and a half months with his back problem.

"Now Alvaro is really fit, 100%, and ready to have an important final of the season: for Chelsea and then, for him, to have the chance to go and play in the World Cup."

Despite Morata being left out of the latest Spain squad, Conte believes the striker will still be picked to go to the World Cup as well as Gary Cahill, who was omitted from Gareth Southgate's England squad for friendlies against the Netherlands and Italy because of his lack of regular starts for the Blues.

"We are talking about two great players, and I'm sure that they have the possibility still to go and play in the World Cup," Conte added.

"For both - for Morata and Cahill. We have to respect the decision of the national team coaches, but we are talking about two great players and I'm sure they are ready to play in the World Cup."

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