Malo Gusto will make his first start for Chelsea, but Reece James will miss out against West Ham United at the London Stadium on Sunday.
Chelsea will be eager to get back to winning ways when they lock horns with West Ham United at the London Stadium on Sunday evening. And Mauricio Pochettino has a new injury concern hampering his preparations ahead of the trip across London.
Reece James is the most notable absentee, with the English international picking up a hamstring injury last weekend against Liverpool. The Chelsea captain will be unavailable for the foreseeable future.
Meanwhile, James has joined Marcus Bettinelli (knock), Trevoh Chalobah (thigh), Benoit Badiashile (hamstring), Wesley Fofana (knee), Armando Broja (knee), and Christopher Nkunku (knee) on the sidelines. And Pochettino discussed his injury during his pre-match press conference.
He said, “It is a sad moment because he’s our captain and he was so excited to be our captain and he was full of energy. We are going to assess him day by day. For sure he wants to be again with the team as soon as possible and for sure he’s going to become stronger than he was, because with all the effort of the club we are going to help him to become stronger than before.”
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“It’s a hamstring injury. It’s not about a few days, maybe a few weeks. The good thing is it’s not a big issue, but the most important thing now is to work really hard to try to anticipate problems and to be sure that when he starts to play again he is fully fit and stronger than he was before. That is the most important thing. That is why we are going to assess him day by day and try to make the plan every day.”
Malo Gusto will make his first start for Chelsea in James’s absence. The French whizkid will join Ben Chilwell in the wing-back pairing. Speaking of Chilwell, the Englishman will don the captain’s armband for the visitors against West Ham.
Pochettino should line his team up in a 3-4-2-1 formation, with Thiago Silva, Levi Colwill, and Axel Disasi retaining their spots at the back. And Robert Sanchez is the undisputed first-choice goalkeeper following Kepa Arrizabalaga’s move to Real Madrid.
As for the midfield unit, Romeo Lavia and Moises Caicedo are in line to make their Chelsea debuts. And Caicedo should make his bow for the West London club, lining up alongside Enzo Fernandez in the middle of the park. Finally, the offensive unit should consist of Conor Gallagher, Raheem Sterling, and Nicolas Jackson. So Mykhailo Mudryk needs to be content with an appearance off the bench.
Predicted Chelsea XI: Sanchez; Disasi, Silva, Colwill; Gusto, Fernandez, Caicedo, Chilwell; Sterling, Gallagher; Jackson
Sterling and Gallaghar out for Mudueke and Mudryuk respectively.
If this message can reach our coach pochettino please let him talk sense in sterling he is not performing better he starts on the beach .