Thiago Silva and Raheem Sterling will return to the Chelsea starting lineup against Newcastle United at Stamford Bridge on Monday.
Chelsea will look to return to winning ways when they welcome Newcastle United to Stamford Bridge on Monday night. And Mauricio Pochettino has new injury concerns hampering his preparations ahead of his side’s latest fixture.
Ben Chilwell and Levi Colwill are the latest absentees, with the former picking up a knee injury and the latter sustaining an ankle issue. In addition, the Chelsea manager is sweating over the availability of Conor Gallagher, who dealt with illness last week.
Benoit Badiashile and Carney Chukwuemeka are closing in on returning to action. But Monday’s game will come too soon for the young duo. Meanwhile, Reece James (thigh), Wesley Fofana (knee), Lesley Ugochukwu (hamstring), Romeo Lavia (thigh), and Christopher Nkunku (thigh) remain in the treatment room.
Pochettino provided a fitness update on several players during his pre-match press conference. The Chelsea boss said, “So far, no [players are back]. It’s the same situation as last week. You all know the list of injured players and also it now has Levi Colwill and Ben Chilwell. Gallagher also hasn’t been training because he has had a virus.”
“That is the news from the medical team. We will see tomorrow or Saturday if he [Gallagher] will have the possibility to train. The problem with this situation is that [after an illness] the energy is down and you need time to recover. We will see if he can be available and ask what is the situation. Can he play? Play only a few minutes? We will need to assess him in the next few days.”
Colwill and Chilwell’s absence means Marc Cucurella will make a rare start as the left-back. The Spaniard will join Axel Disasi, Thiago Silva, and Malo Gusto in the backline, with Silva returning to the starting lineup. The quartet will protect Robert Sanchez, who will take his place between the sticks for Chelsea.
As for the midfield unit, there is no looking past Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez in the double pivot. Cole Palmer will reprise the no. 10 role if Gallagher does not make it. Mykhailo Mudryk and Raheem Sterling should feature as the wide attackers, with Nicolas Jackson leading the line against Newcastle United.
Predicted Chelsea XI: Sanchez; Gusto, Disasi, Silva, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernandez; Sterling, Palmer, Mudryk; Jackson