Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri says Mateo Kovacic could make his debut against Arsenal on Saturday.

The Croatia international is spending the 2018-19 campaign on loan at Chelsea after he expressed a desire to leave Real Madrid because of a lack of game time last term.

And Sarri hinted he is ready to give Kovacic his first outing as a Chelsea player on Saturday when the Blues host their London rivals Arsenal at Stamford Bridge.

Sarri said: "I think Mateo will be very useful for us. He's a very technical player.

"In this moment, he has to work. I think he's not ready now for 90 minutes, but maybe, tomorrow, for the first 30 or the last 30 minutes he could be used.

"I expect a lot from him because, for me, he's a very great player. In my opinion, he can improve more."

Kovacic has been earmarked to play on the left of Sarri's three-man midfield, but the Chelsea coach believes the 24-year-old can also play on the right and centrally.

"I think he can play in any of the three positions in midfield," Sarri said.

"He's a very good offensive player, but he has improved in the defensive phase in the last two years in Madrid."