Conte wants Barkley back 'very quickly' as he reveals tactical plans for new attacker

Antonio Conte already has ideas about how to use Ross Barkley in Chelsea's starting line up, despite not having conducted a training session with him since the player's £15 million move from Everton on Friday. 

Chelsea have signed the 24-year-old in on a five-and-a-half-year contract at Stamford Bridge, but he is thought to need more time to fully recover from surgery on his hamstring. 

Conte was speaking after Chelsea's 0-0 draw away at Norwich City in the third round of the FA Cup and he believes that Barkley can make an impact on the club when he gets himself fit. 

"Today he started to have a training session with the fitness coach," Conte said. "It's important for me to see him, to understand his physical condition, to improve his physical condition, to work with us, into our ideas. My hope is to have this player very quickly."

Conte continued: “Ross Barkley is a really good player. First of all we have the necessity to bring him in the best physical condition. I think he can play in midfield, if we play with three midfielders, or number 10 if we play 3-4-3. Ross Barkley is also a creative player. 

"Tonight we had Willian and Pedro. These are two creative players. This signing is a good signing for the club. I think he has the quality to score more goals. My priority is to convince the player to work for the team.

"If you are able to work for the team, the team then exalt your characteristics. We are talking about a talented player and we are happy to have him in our squad. It will be very important to know him very well.

"Before playing, we must be sure that he is into our idea of football. Otherwise it's a problem for him and it's a problem for the rest of the team.”

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Barkley hasn't played in a competitive match yet this season but he has played in a behind-closed-doors friendly at Everton. 

The England international has so far earned 22 caps for his country but he hasn't been called up since April 2016. He subsequently wasn't selected for Euro 2016 by Roy Hodgson despite playing in the World Cup in 2014. 

Conte belives that his move to Chelsea will help him re-establish himself as an international footballer. 

“We are talking about a player with great talent," Conte added. "Before this bad injury he was with the national team. I think we have six months, no five months, to show he deserves a call with the national team for the World Cup.”

Meanwhile, David Luiz made his return from a knee injury to play for the first time since late November in the 0-0 draw with Norwich. 

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The Brazil international has been linked with a move away from Chelsea in January after rumours of unrest between the player and his manager.

Conte remains adamant that Luiz will get chances to play at Stamford Bridge as the club prepare to face eight games in 28 days over the month of January. 

“For sure, it was good news for David Luiz to come back after a month and a half from an injury in his knee," Conte acknowledged. "As you know very well, we have a lot of games to play.

"There is the league, Carabao games, the semi-final against Arsenal and another game in the FA Cup. There are many chances for all my players. I'm happy to give this chance to everyone, because I think they deserve this."