Malo Gusto and Ian Maatsen will make rare starts for Chelsea against Newcastle United in the EFL Cup quarter-final on Tuesday.
Chelsea will aim to reach the EFL Cup semi-finals when they welcome Newcastle United to Stamford Bridge on Tuesday night. And Mauricio Pochettino does not have any new concerns to deal with ahead of his side’s latest fixture.
Robert Sanchez (knee), Reece James (hamstring), Marc Cucurella (ankle), Trevoh Chalobah (thigh), Wesley Fofana (knee), Ben Chilwell (thigh), Romeo Lavia (ankle), Carney Chukwuemeka (knee), Lesley Ugochukwu (unspecified), and Noni Madueke (unspecified) remain on the sidelines.
But there is some good news, as Christopher Nkunku and Malo Gusto have taken part in full training ahead of Tuesday’s EFL Cup fixture. And Pochettino discussed Nkunku’s participation during his pre-match press conference.
The Chelsea boss said, “Lavia no, he’s still not ready. Christopher was involved on Saturday and is going to be involved again. Today he trained well, so maybe he has the possibility to be involved in some minutes of the game. The reality is he wasn’t for me a player to be involved after it went 2-0 against Sheffield United.”
I saw today he was much better than the day before we played against Sheffield United, so maybe it increases the possibility he will be involved. How I saw him today, maybe he can play 20 minutes.”
“How I saw him before the game against Sheffield United, in my mind, there was one per cent or two per cent of doubt, that is why I didn’t want to take a risk with him, I need to be 100 per cent. I think it was good for him to be involved with the team, doing the warm-up, that was amazing, but why take a risk when the game was 2-0?”
So, Nkunku will not start against Newcastle United, with Conor Gallagher reprising the no. 10 role. The Chelsea skipper will play behind Armando Broja, who will be the central striker. Cole Palmer and Raheem Sterling should start as the two wide attackers for the home side.
As for the midfield unit, Enzo Fernandez should return after dropping to the bench against Sheffield United this past weekend. The 2018 FIFA World Cup winner will accompany Moises Caicedo in the double pivot in the middle of the park.
Meanwhile, the backline should see starts for two struggling full-backs. Malo Gusto and Ian Maatsen should feature from the get-go, with the duo joining Axel Disasi and Benoit Badiashile in the defensive quarter. Finally, Djordje Petrovic will continue to deputise for the injured Robert Sanchez.
Predicted Chelsea XI: Petrovic; Gusto, Disasi, Badiashile, Maatsen; Caicedo, Fernandez; Sterling, Gallagher, Palmer; Broja
