Chelsea captain John Terry will miss Saturday's Premier League clash with Hull and is out until after the international break.
The defender has missed the last three matches with an ankle injury sustained against Swansea and manager Antonio Conte confirmed the game would come too soon for the 35-year-old.
Chelsea endured a poor September in the league, drawing against Swansea and losing to Liverpool and Arsenal after three straight wins in August.
With no European football this season, Conte's side have had a full week to mull over their disappointing 3-0 defeat at the Emirates.
Mike Phelan continues to be questioned about his future at Hull, stating on Friday that he has not signed a deal to become permanent boss because the club keep changing the terms of the deal.
Hull started brightly under Phelan with two league wins, but have struggled in the league since late August despite advancing to the EFL Cup round of 16 in that time.
Team news
Ahmed Elmohamady serves a one-game ban following his dismissal for handball in last week's 5-1 defeat at Liverpool, while David Meyler is vying with James Weir for a place in the starting line-up at right-back.
Strikers Will Keane and Dieumerci Mbokani and midfielder Markus Henriksen are pushing for their first league starts.
Defender Kurt Zouma continues his rehabilitation from his long-term knee injury, while midfielder John Obi Mikel is out with a "small muscular problem", Conte said.
Opta stats
Hull have never beaten Chelsea in the Premier League, losing six and drawing twice.
Diego Costa and Eden Hazard scored in both Premier League fixtures against Hull in the 2014/15 season. Indeed, five of Chelsea's last seven PL goals against the Tigers have been scored or assisted by Costa and Hazard.
Courtesy of his red card v Liverpool last weekend, this will be the first Premier League game that Elmohamady has ever missed for Hull (38 games in 13/14, 38 in 14/15 and six in 16/17).
Hull have conceded 40 shots on target this season, more than any other Premier League team.
If Chelsea lose this game they will have lost as many games under Antonio Conte (3) in seven matches as they did in 21 outings under Guus Hiddink last season.
Merson's prediction
Chelsea really need to get back to winning ways. I couldn't believe what I was watching against Arsenal last weekend, it was unbelievable.
I wouldn't be surprised if they drew this because Chelsea are all over the place at the back and they need desperately need John Terry back. I'm going to go for a Chelsea win just because of what happened to Hull against Arsenal in their last home game when they were beaten 4-1.
PAUL PREDICTS: 1-2 (Sky Bet odds 7/1)
Betting
Chelsea are Sky Bet's 4/9 favourites for the victory on Saturday, with Hull up against odds of 11/2 while the draw is priced at 7/2.
Diego Costa heads the first goalscorer betting at 11/4 while Roberto Snodgrass is considered the hosts' main threat at 9/1 to net first.
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