Malo Gusto and Mykhailo Mudryk should return to the Chelsea starting lineup against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sunday.
Chelsea will look to build on the recent winning run when they lock horns with Wolverhampton Wanderers at the Molineux on Sunday afternoon. And Mauricio Pochettino does not have any new fitness issues hampering his preparations ahead of his side’s latest fixture.
Pochettino will travel to Wolverhampton without eight first-team players, with captain Reece James being the most notable absentee. In addition, Robert Sanchez, Trevoh Chalobah, Wesley Fofana, Marc Cucurella, Ben Chilwell, Lesley Ugochukwu, and Carney Chukwuemeka remain on the sidelines.
Meanwhile, there might be some positive updates, with Romeo Lavia and Noni Madueke closing in on returning to action. Enzo Fernandez has also overcome an illness to be available to take on Wolverhampton Wanderers. Pochettino spoke about Lavia and Madueke during his pre-match press conference, with Reece James being another subject.
On James, he said, “I think he feels well because he has started his recovery, so he is one day closer to being with the group. This is really positive, we are all really positive around him and we are going to help him to go forward in the best way. Of course it is always tough for a player that is having a very complicated, very difficult season. But now is the process to start to recover.”
As for Madueke and Lavia, he said, “From the beginning of the season Noni was involved then not involved. He was injured and suffered some problems. He is in a position that has massive competition because there are so many players in that area, and he needs to compete and he needs to increase his level. He was injured and now he is recovering and maybe he will be involved for the next games.”
“Lavia is similar to Nkunku, when he arrived he couldn’t make his debut. After nearly six months maybe he will be involved with the team tomorrow. He is doing well but he still needs time to get his best form. He is desperate to make his debut.”
Lavia and Madueke will not start, with Conor Gallagher and Moises Caicedo pairing up in the double pivot in the middle of the park, while Raheem Sterling and Mykhailo Mudryk will take their places on the two flanks. Meanwhile, Enzo Fernandez will be on the bench, with Cole Palmer reprising the no. 10 role.
The Englishman will play behind Nicolas Jackson, who will spearhead the Chelsea attack against Wolverhampton Wanderers. Finally, the defensive unit should see a change, with Malo Gusto featuring as the right-back. Gusto will join Thiago Silva, Benoit Badiashile, and Levi Colwill in the backline. Djordje Petrovic will start between the sticks in Sanchez’s absence.
Predicted Chelsea XI: Petrovic; Gusto, Silva, Badiashile, Colwill; Caicedo, Gallagher; Sterling, Palmer, Mudryk; Jackson
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