Malo Gusto will be in contention to feature for Chelsea against Barrow AFC in the EFL Cup third-round tie at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday.
Chelsea will aim to qualify for the EFL Cup fourth round when they welcome Barrow AFC to Stamford Bridge in the third round on Tuesday night. And Enzo Maresca has greeted a positive update on the team news front ahead of his side’s latest fixture.
Malo Gusto has recovered from a thigh injury, with the French full-back available to take on Barrow on Tuesday. However, Romeo Lavia will take a few more days to return from his hamstring issue, with the weekend Premier League game against Brighton & Hove Albion his likely comeback game.
Meanwhile, Reece James and Omari Kellyman remain on the sidelines due to their hamstring injuries. Maresca discussed the availability of Gusto and Lavia during his pre-match press conference while confirming a starter.
The Chelsea manager said, “Malo is available for tomorrow. Romeo is not available for tomorrow. Hopefully he can be available for the Brighton game. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, yes, probably [he will start tomorrow night]. We have a session this afternoon and I also like to tell the players before anyone else [like the media].”
“I’m very happy with Kiernan. If we simply judge a team or a player based on how they play or if we win, we also need to understand Kiernan was the main player at Leicester and he is not now and is not the main player, he is one of the players.”
Meanwhile, Maresca confirmed Ben Chilwell, Carney Chukwuemeka, Tyrique George, and Josh Acheampong would be in the matchday squad on Tuesday. The Chelsea boss said, “The players you mentioned are going to be in the squad tomorrow. Some of them we will see if they will start from the beginning but if not, they will be on the bench and hopefully we can give them some moments.”
However, the quartet will not feature from the get-go, with appearances off the bench likely. Maresca might also save Gusto for the weekend. So, Axel Disasi will retain his spot in the backline and line up alongside Benoit Badiashile, Tosin Adarabioyo, and Levi Colwill. Filip Jorgensen is an automatic pick between the sticks in cup games.
As for the midfield unit, Renato Veiga should pair up with Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall in the double pivot. Joao Felix will reprise the no. 10 role, with Mykhailo Mudryk and Pedro Neto being the two wide attackers. Finally, Christopher Nkunku will lead the line for Chelsea against Barrow.
Predicted Chelsea XI: Jorgensen; Disasi, Badiashile, Tosin Adarabioyo, Colwill; Renato Veiga, Dewsbury-Hall; Pedro Neto, Joao Felix, Mudryk; Nkunku
