David Luiz returns to Chelsea squad for West Brom trip after Manchester United omission

David Luiz will return to the Chelsea squad for this weekend's Premier League clash with West Bromwich Albion, Antonio Conte has confirmed.

The erratic Brazilian centre-back was dropped altogether for the final game before the international break - an entertaining 1-0 win over Manchester United - in a re-jig after the heavy Champions League defeat to AS Roma.

Andreas Christensen started alongside Gary Cahill and Cesar Azpilicueta while Antonio Rudiger and teenager Ethan Ampadu were included on the bench at the expense of the ex-Benfica and Paris Saint-Germain defender.

While Conte was keen to stress that such a surprising omission was purely tactical, it was later reported by The Times that Luiz was frozen out following a confrontation with the manager during which he was perceived to have queried his tactics and questioned his authority, in the wake of the European defeat in Rome.

That rift has led to speculation that Luiz could potentially depart Chelsea for the second time in three-and-a-half years, with Manchester United rumoured to be monitoring his situation ahead of the January transfer window.

While it remains to be seen if Luiz will reclaim his starting berth against West Brom on Saturday (18 November), he will at least be part of the matchday 18 at The Hawthorns.

"Yes, David Luiz is in the squad," Conte told reporters in his pre-match press conference at Cobham on Friday afternoon. "I repeat, it was a technical decision. Every single player has to react well and accept my decision. It's normal."

Pressed on if there had been a breakdown in his relationship with Luiz, he added: "I'm here to speak for the team before an important game against West Brom, and not to speak about a single player. I like to speak about the team, about the next game in which we have to pay good attention. This is the most important thing. I don't like to speak about a single player."

Conte revealed that captain Cahill is in contention to face West Brom after not featuring for England in either of their friendly draws with Germany and Brazil, while he is hopeful that wing-back Victor Moses (hamstring) will return ahead of the trip to Liverpool next week.

Back-up striker Michy Batshuayi is nursing an ankle injury that ruled him out of Belgium's meetings with Mexico and Japan and young attacker Charly Musonda has a knee problem. Reports suggest that the former could be sidelined for the next five games which includes meetings with the Baggies, FK Qarabag, Liverpool, Swansea City and Newcastle United.

Eden Hazard and Tiemoue Bakayoko have both trained, meanwhile.

"Batshuayi has a problem in his ankle, Musonda has a problem in his knee," Conte confirmed. "Moses is progressing well and I hope to see him back next week."

Danny Drinkwater received heavy criticism last week after rejecting an England call-up due to fitness concerns, although Conte defended his injury-plagued £35m ($46.1m) summer signing's forsight after he sustained another knock during the closing stages against United.

"He was very honest," stated Conte, who does not believe the decision will severely impact on his World Cup hopes. "During the game against United he took a knock on his calf, and after the game he had to do a training session to recover the best form, and instead he stopped himself to try and have treatment and to recover.

"Only this week he started to work with us again. It means that the player was clear, was intelligent. I don't understand why we have to try always to find a problem."