Reece James and Cole Palmer will return to the Chelsea starting lineup against Manchester United at Old Trafford on Wednesday.
Chelsea will look to build on the narrow win over Brighton & Hove Albion this past weekend when they lock horns with Manchester United at Old Trafford on Wednesday night. And Mauricio Pochettino has greeted a mixed bag of updates on the team news front ahead of his side’s latest fixture.
The good news is Reece James and Marc Cucurella are available after serving their suspensions on Sunday. But Pochettino has lost Conor Gallagher to a ban of his own after the English international saw red against Brighton.
Gallagher has joined Wesley Fofana (knee), Ben Chilwell (hamstring), Trevoh Chalobah (thigh), and Carney Chukwuemeka (knee) on the sidelines. Meanwhile, Malo Gusto, Romeo Lavia, and Christopher Nkunku are continuing their rehabilitation since recovering from their injuries.
But the game against Manchester United might have come too soon for the trio, with Lavia and Nkunku yet to make their Chelsea debuts. Pochettino discussed Lavia and Nkunku during his pre-match press conference while providing fitness updates on Lesley Ugochukwu and Noni Madueke.
He said, “Tomorrow is still too soon. We hope [Nkunku will be available] soon. It’s about assessing injured players day by day. Sometimes, we become excited when we see players on the pitch, as we want to have them as soon as possible. But we need to be careful and, of course, when he is ready he will be with the squad.”
“Romeo is doing well but like Christo isn’t going to be involved. Lesley felt something last week, it’s a minor injury. Noni, after Sunday against Brighton, also has a minor problem. We hope that soon they will be available to train and available for the team.”
With Lavia and Ugochukwu unavailable and Gallagher serving a suspension, Pochettino’s midfield options are slim. So, Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez will pair up in the double pivot in the middle of the park. Meanwhile, Cole Palmer should replace the suspended Gallagher, reprising the no. 10 role.
Palmer should join Raheem Sterling, Mykhailo Mudryk, and Nicolas Jackson in the final third. As for the defensive unit, Reece James should return, taking over the right-back berth. The Chelsea captain will join Axel Disasi, Benoit Badiashile, and Levi Colwill in the backline, with Thiago Silva getting some rest. Finally, Robert Sanchez will take his spot between the sticks on Wednesday.
Predicted Chelsea XI: Sanchez; James, Disasi, Badiashile, Colwill; Fernandez, Caicedo; Sterling, Palmer, Mudryk; Jackson
