Maurizio Sarri has hinted that he will continue to overlook Alvaro Morata for squad selection as Chelsea prepare for their trip to Crystal Palace.

The Spanish striker has failed to settle during his 18 months at Stamford Bridge and is now considered third choice in his favoured position behind Olivier Giroud and Eden Hazard.

Morata has not been used by Sarri over the past two weeks, with the 26-year-old being left out of the 18-man squad entirely for the Boxing Day win over Watford, despite returning to fitness.

According to The Mirror, the ex-Real Madrid star's career at Chelsea is now hanging by a thread as he is not expected to play a part at Selhurst Park on Sunday afternoon.

Speaking two days before the match, Sarri told reporters: "First of all, I want to see the condition of the players. We have ­another training session and then we will decide. I don't know. He is fit. ­Before, it was only a tactical choice to leave him out.

"Alvaro's potential is that he's a very good player, as you know. But I think, at the ­moment, we need balance on the pitch and we need to be more solid. So, in the last few matches I preferred this ­solution."

Morata has started three top-flight matches for Chelsea since early November, with the Blues failing to win any of those games.