Chelsea’s new Brazilian striker Alexandre Pato could make his debut in the next two games, with Diego Costa being rested, according to Guus Hiddink.
Pato signed from Corinthians in January on loan until the end of the season but is yet to play for Chelsea, who have not lost a league game since his arrival.
“He is eager and of course we now have healthy competition between the strikers, in a very good atmosphere, with Diego the No1,” Hiddink said before Tuesday’s visit to Norwich City.
John Terry, who is still recovering from a hamstring injury, has started running again and could return in time for Saturday’s home game against Stoke City but Hiddink is unsure how long the winger Pedro will be out. He injured a hamstring in the 2-1 win at Southampton on Saturday.
“I’m not that positive it will be resolved within a few days,” Hiddink said.
Chelsea have climbed to 11th in the table and are unbeaten in the top flight since Hiddink took over. “When I started in December, we were close to the relegation zone, just one point [above], and the first objective was to get as soon as possible out of that zone,” he said. “That, of course, is not the target for Chelsea but it does encourage us to go on.”