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Gonzalo Higuain had to watch on from the sidelines as Chelsea beat Brighton and Hove Albion on Wednesday night.

And he might have to do so against West Ham United next week.

A loan signing from Juventus - via AC Milan - in the January transfer window, Higuain netted a brace on his home debut against Huddersfield Town but has only found the net once since and that was against Fulham last month.

The 31-year-old struggled on his last start against Cardiff City last Sunday, not winning a single won of his duels, he didn't complete a single dribble or key pass and was dispossessed twice before being substituted.

It was a telling sign that even with the Blues 3-0 up on Wednesday, Higuain remained an unused substitute.

There is an argument that the former Argentina international was just being rested given the number of games coming up domestically as well as in Europe, but there's no guarantee that he will be recalled against the Hammers.

Maurizio Sarri spoke to the media ahead of the London derby at Stamford Bridge and dropped a massive hint that Olivier Giroud - who opened the scoring against the Seagulls - will get the nod in attack once again.

"I think he [Higuain] needs time to improve his condition and be suitable for the Premier League but I think he is able to do it." Sarri told reporters at Cobham.

"We are lucky because we have Giroud and he is in a very good mental and physical condition."

Giroud's contract with the west London outfit is due to expire at the end of June, but with the Blues facing a two-window transfer ban there's a chance he could extend his stay in the capital by a further year.

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