Cole Palmer will be one of several players to return to the Chelsea starting lineup against Nottingham Forest at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
Chelsea will look to continue the excellent run of form when they welcome Nottingham Forest to Stamford Bridge on Sunday afternoon. And Enzo Maresca has no new issues to worry about ahead of his side’s latest fixture.
Reece James and Omari Kellyman remain on the sidelines, with the duo still recovering from their hamstring injuries. Carney Chukwuemeka missed the UEFA Europa Conference League match against KAA Gent due to illness but might return to the matchday squad on Sunday.
Maresca discussed Chukwuemeka’s absence against Gent in his pre-match press conference, which took place after the UEFA Europa Conference League tie earlier this week. The Italian tactician also provided a team news update.
The Chelsea manager said, “Carney was in the squad [for Gent] but didn’t feel well during the night. He was ill, this is why he wasn’t in the squad [when the team-sheets came out]. There is no update on the rest, everyone else is available [for Forest]. The only one who isn’t is Reece James, who is still out. The rest are available.”
While Chukwuemeka should be available to take on Nottingham Forest this weekend, he will unlikely feature. Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez will pair up in the double pivot in the middle of the park, with the duo aiming to control the proceedings from the central areas.
Cole Palmer will return to the Chelsea starting lineup to reprise the no. 10 role. The Englishman will pull the strings from advanced positions, with Noni Madueke and Jadon Sancho providing the support from the flanks. Nicolas Jackson will lead the line for the home side against Nottingham Forest.
The backline will feature the regular faces, with Malo Gusto and Marc Cucurella starting as the full-backs, while Wesley Fofana and Levi Colwill will pair up at the heart of the defence. Finally, there is no looking past Robert Sanchez between the sticks despite his howlers against Brighton & Hove Albion last weekend.
Predicted Chelsea XI: Sanchez; Gusto, Fofana, Colwill, Cucurella; Enzo Fernandez, Caicedo; Madueke, Palmer, Sancho; Jackson
