Injured Atsu sits out of Chelsea, Bournemouth clash

Ghana winger Christian Atsu could have faced his parent club Chelsea on Saturday as they play against Bournemouth in the Premier League on Saturday.

Atsu is on a season-long loan spell at Bournemouth from Chelsea but his game-time has been limited to two League Cup appearances.

But the 23-year-old, who moved to the Premier League from Portuguese giants FC Porto, has been sidelined with a stress fracture and returned to Stamford Bridge for recovery.

But before Atsu's injury problems began he had failed to make the Bournemouth squad for a single Premier League game with manager Eddie Howe revealing the former Vitesse Arnhem loanee's injury problems has cost him his place in his regular squad.

But Chelsea have goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois back after three months out while Nemanja Matic is fit despite needing a facial mask to protect his broken nose.

Chelsea have won four of their previous five league and cup games against Bournemouth - BBC Sports.

Chelsea are unbeaten in their last 43 Premier League home games against newly-promoted sides (W37, D6) - BBC Sports.

The Stamford Bridge giants are still below a mid-table spot with just four wins from their opening 14 games of the season while the Cherries are languishing in the drop zone with 10 points from same number of games like the Blues.