Filip Jorgensen, Trevoh Chalobah, and Enzo Fernandez will return to the Chelsea starting lineup against Leicester City at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
Chelsea will aim to return to the top four when they welcome Leicester City to Stamford Bridge on Sunday afternoon. Enzo Maresca has no new injury concerns hampering his preparations ahead of his side’s latest fixture.
Maresca has been sweating over Malo Gusto’s fitness after he limped off in the UEFA Europa Conference League tie with FC Copenhagen. However, the French full-back and Romeo Lavia should be fit and available to take on Leicester City.
So, Noni Madueke, Nicolas Jackson, and Marc Guiu are the only injury-enforced absentees as they recover from their hamstring injuries. In addition, Mykhailo Mudryk continues serving his suspension after failing a doping test last year. Meanwhile, during his pre-match press conference, Maresca confirmed Wesley Fofana and Benoit Badiashile’s availability this weekend.
The Chelsea manager said, “Wes is training with us and he has been for more than 10 days now, so he is back and can be involved. Benoit is back as well, and Romeo has also started to work with us. This is good news but we have to be patient with him, because he is still quite far away from being 100 per cent fit and ready.”
“But he is starting to work with us again and this is good news. The rest are the same as before, there is no update on those players – Nicolas [Jackson], Noni [Madueke], Marc [Guiu] and Aaron [Anselmino] – they are all out still. Nico has started to do some running outside which is good but I don’t think there is any change with his status, we are still looking at after the international break for him [before returning].”
Filip Jorgensen will replace Robert Sanchez between the sticks, with Chelsea lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him against Leicester City on Sunday. The backline should feature Malo Gusto, Trevoh Chalobah, Levi Colwill, and Marc Cucurella.
As for the midfield unit, Enzo Fernandez will return as Moises Caicedo’s partner in the double pivot after Maresca rested him earlier this week against FC Copenhagen. Cole Palmer will reprise the no. 10 role, with Christopher Nkunku and Jadon Sancho being the two wide attackers. Finally, Pedro Neto will lead the line for the home side against Leicester City.
Predicted Chelsea XI: Jorgensen; Gusto, Chalobah, Colwill, Cucurella; Enzo Fernandez, Caicedo; Sancho, Palmer, Nkunku; Neto