Cesar Azpilicueta and Jorginho will return when Chelsea and Brentford face off at the Brentford Community Stadium on Wednesday.
Chelsea will be eager to continue the unbeaten run under Graham Potter when they lock horns with Brentford at the Brentford Community Stadium on Wednesday night. And Graham Potter has no new injury concerns hampering his preparations ahead of his side’s latest fixture.
Wesley Fofana (knee), N’Golo Kante (hamstring), and Reece James (knee) remain on the sidelines for Chelsea. And according to an official statement by the Blues, Kante will be out for four months after undergoing surgery on his hamstring.
Meanwhile, Potter has been sweating over the fitness of Thiago Silva, who sustained a knock against Aston Villa last weekend. And the Chelsea boss spoke about the veteran Brazilian centre-back during his pre-match press conference.
“It’s as we were, no problems from the weekend. No problems injury wise, it’s just the recovery. 24, 48 hours, we need to make sure the recovery is right for him. I have to involve him in the conversations because he’s 38 years old.”
Brentford vs Chelsea Preview: Probable Lineups, Prediction, Tactics, Team News & Key Stats
“He’s a man, he knows himself better than I do. He’s a really important person and player for us. We have to manage him correctly, and he has to be involved in that process.”
Despite Potter’s words, the quick turnover between games might prompt the Chelsea boss to rest Silva. Cesar Azpilicueta will likely replace Silva in the central defensive unit, with Trevoh Chalobah moving into the sweeper role.
Meanwhile, Kalidou Koulibaly might come in for Marc Cucurella on the left-hand side. The backline will cover Kepa Arrizabalaga, who has usurped Edouard Mendy as the first-choice goalkeeper for Chelsea.
Raheem Sterling started as the right wing-back against Aston Villa but should move into the final third versus Brentford. Ruben Loftus-Cheek might move into the right wing-back role, with Jorginho taking up the vacant midfield berth. The Chelsea vice-captain will pair up with Mateo Kovacic in the middle of the park.
Ben Chilwell should continue as the left wing-back, combining with Sterling on his flank. So Kai Havertz should drop out, with Mason Mount and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang continuing in the Chelsea attack. Christian Pulisic and Havertz will be among the substitutes.
Predicted Chelsea XI: Kepa; Azpilicueta, Chalobah, Koulibaly; Loftus-Cheek, Jorginho, Kovacic, Chilwell; Mount, Aubameyang, Sterling
