Joao Felix and Noni Madueke will start when Chelsea and West Ham United meet at the London Stadium on Saturday.
Chelsea will aim to end the recent run of winless results when they lock horns with West Ham United at the London Stadium on Saturday afternoon. And Graham Potter has greeted a positive update on the team news front ahead of his side’s latest fixture.
Joao Felix is available after serving a three-match ban. But there is some bad news as well, with Raheem Sterling picking up a knock during training. And Potter suggested in his pre-match press conference that the Englishman is doubtful for Saturday’s fixture.
Potter said, “We had a little set-back with Raheem, he had a kick in training so we’re assessing him. I think he’s probably doubtful for tomorrow I’d say. It’s a new injury, he just got a kick in training on the side of his knee.”
The Chelsea boss also spoke about having Felix back at his disposal. In addition, he provided an update on a few injured players, including Wesley Fofana and Mateo Kovacic. Potter said, “It’s great to have him back. I think we all saw the impact that he had in his 60 minutes before the red card. You could see his quality, I see it every day.”
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“He’s a player that I think can make a difference for us but at the same time it’s about helping him get into the team, get integrated into the team and to the team-mates around him and for him to understand what we’re trying to do, but the signs are really positive.”
“No one else is back but they’re all getting closer and closer. Wesley has been training with the team, Denis has been training with the team. Apart from that, Mateo’s training with the team, but it will be too soon for him. So there’s good news, we’ve got some options.”
Felix should return to the starting lineup straightaway, replacing Kai Havertz as the “False Nine”. Mykhaylo Mudryk should continue on the left flank despite a sub-par display against Fulham. Meanwhile, with Sterling unavailable, Noni Madueke might come in for Hakim Ziyech on the right wing.
The rest of the starting lineup should remain unchanged following the latest fitness update. So Enzo Fernandez will likely sit at the base of the midfield unit. And Conor Gallagher and Mason Mount should join the Argentine international in the middle of the park.
As for the defensive unit, Thiago Silva will celebrate his contract renewal with another start. The Brazilian international will guide Benoit Badiashile in the central defensive partnership. And Reece James and Marc Cucurella will be the two full-backs. Finally, Kepa Arrizabalaga picks himself between the sticks.
Predicted Chelsea XI: Kepa; James, Thiago Silva, Badiashile, Cucurella; Gallagher, Fernandez, Mount; Sterling, Felix, Mudryk
I can’t wait to see Felix in action once again and the most fantastic of it is been paired with Madueke and Mudryk. The trio are fun to watch in display.