HAZARD LEFT OUT OF CHELSEA SQUAD FOR PAOK

Chelsea star Eden Hazard has been left out by Maurizio Sarri for their Europa League group opener away at PAOK...

The Blues will open their Europa League campaign on Thursday night as they travelled to Greece today.

Other noticeable absentees are David Luiz, Mateo Kovacic and Emerson Palmieri, who didn't make the squad.

Hazard is the most noticeable one, though, with the Belgian being perhaps the star player of the Premier League season thus far.

The winger has scored five goals in as many games so far this season - most recently picking up a brilliant hat-trick in their win against Cardiff City.

Sarri's decision is thought to be to rest Hazard with the Blues facing three games in seven days, including two back-to-back games against Liverpool.

Cesc Fabregas, who is yet to feature under his new boss, has travelled to Greece with the rest of the squad - and he looks likely to make his first appearance of the season.