Guus Hiddink has said his successor, Antonio Conte, faces a tougher task returning Chelsea to the Premier League elite without the old guard in the likelihood John Terry severs ties with the club this summer.

The champions travel to Swansea today without Terry, Diego Costa, Nemanja Matic, Loic Remy and, most likely, Gary Cahill.

Terry, who is anxious to play his part over the run-in, could be absent until next month with an achilles problem, while Cahill will require a late test on a hip complaint.

That will leave Hiddink leaning heavily on a core of young players at the Liberty Stadium, all of whom should benefit from the experience as they prepare for life under new manager Conte next term.

The head coach, who will take up the reins after Italy’s involvement at Euro 2016, faces the prospect of inheriting a team who have not qualified for European competition for the first time under Roman Abramovich’s ownership of Chelsea.

While Hiddink believes Conte will still be able to sell the club to prospective recruits, the lack of a spine of established, senior players could prove a hindrance.

“That’s an extra complication,” said Hiddink, who is coming to the end of his second stint in temporary charge.

“When I came here in 2009 there was also this transition but at that time the team was firm regarding the personalities . . . Now it’s a bit different and it’s not easy.”

Cobham visit

Conte visited the training ground at Cobham on Tuesday and met the players.

“He was presented on Monday and there was also the request if he could come and meet and shake hands with the players,” Hiddink said. “I didn’t have any objection with that. So everyone met, very briefly, very short. That was Tuesday.

“I had a short meeting with him about general things, football, Italy, the past . . . generally about the club and the work we’ve done in the past few months. And that was it.”

Guardian Service