Alvaro Morata could miss two months with hamstring injury

The 24-year-old was substituted in the first-half of Saturday’s 1-0 defeat to Manchester City with a hamstring problem, and subsequent scans have revealed a grade 2 hamstring strain.

Spain have confirmed the injury after the player was assessed in a Madrid hospital.

A grade 2 hamstring strain can take between four to eight weeks to recover from.

Morata was expected to lead the line for Spain in their upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Albania and Israel, but his withdrawal leaves Celta Vigo’s Iago Aspas as the only natural striker in the squad.

Spain manager Julen Lopetgeui may opt instead to use a striker-less formation, as he did to such great effect in the recent 3-0 win over Italy.

Morata has been a revelation at Chelsea, expertly filling the gap left by Diego Costa in the Blues' attacking and finding the net six times in the Premier League. He is expected to be fit to play for Chelsea against Crystal Palace on October 14.