Levi Colwill will start, while Mykhailo Mudryk should return to the matchday squad when Chelsea and Nottingham Forest clash on Saturday.
Chelsea will look to head into the international break with a bang when they welcome Nottingham Forest to Stamford Bridge on Saturday afternoon. And Mauricio Pochettino has greeted positive updates on the team news front ahead of his side’s latest fixture.
Mykhailo Mudryk is fit and available after recovering from a minor injury. In addition, Levi Colwill has shrugged off a knock he picked up against AFC Wimbledon earlier this week.
But Marcus Bettinelli (knee), Reece James (hamstring), Trevoh Chalobah (thigh), Wesley Fofana (knee), Benoit Badiashile (thigh), Romeo Lavia (match fitness), Carney Chukwuemeka (knee), Armando Broja (knee), and Christopher Nkunku (knee) remain on the sidelines.
Pochettino spoke about Mudryk and his potential during the pre-match press conference. He said on Mudryk, “He’s a very talented player, but before talking about football, he needs to feel comfortable, feel really strong in his body.”
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“He suffered from before the beginning of pre-season. He only played one game at the [Under-21] Euros because he was injured. Here he was never consistently training, something happened. Now we are focused on trying to help him, and for him to feel strong and healthy. Nobody can perform if he doesn’t feel strong and confident in your body.”
Mudryk might need to build up his fitness before becoming a regular starter for Chelsea this season. So Conor Gallagher and Raheem Sterling will retain their spots behind Nicolas Jackson, who will spearhead the attack against Nottingham Forest.
As for the midfield unit, Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo pick themselves in the double pivot. And Caicedo’s presence in the middle of the park will give Fernandez the opportunity to charge forward and contribute in the final third.
The rest of the team picks itself, with Malo Gusto being an automatic pick as the right wing-back in James’s absence. Ben Chilwell will don the captain’s armband, while Thiago Silva, Axel Disasi, and Colwill will form the central defensive unit. Finally, Robert Sanchez will feature between the sticks.
Predicted Chelsea XI: Sanchez; Disasi, Silva, Colwill; Gusto, Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez, Chilwell; Sterling, Gallagher; Jackson
