Spanish winger Pedro is in a race against the clock to be fit for the Community Shield clash between Chelsea and Arsenal at Wembley Stadium on August 6.

The Blues manager Antonio Conte has revealed that Pedro's injury he sustained against the Gunners this past weekend in a friendly is worse than first feared, with the player suffering multiple fractures.

''The situation was more serious than I thought because I hoped it would only be concussion and instead he had multiple fractures,'' Conte told reporters, according to chelseafc.com.

''With a mask, and in around 10 days, he can come back to work with us.''

And the Italian tactician has refused to blame Arsenal goalkeeper Ospina for Pedro's injury, stating : ''No, absolutely not. I was a player and I know these type of accidents can happen. Ospina tried to take the ball''

Chelsea right wing-backs Victor Moses and Fikayo Tomori, and Arsenal pair Chuba Akpom and Alex Iwobi are available for selection, for the time being.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

Photo Credit : Instagram.com/ Pedro