Club football returns after the final international break of the calendar year and Chelsea’s first test is a trip to the King Power Stadium on Saturday lunchtime in the Premier League.
Enzo Maresca makes his return to the King Power having overseen Leicester City’s promotion from the Championship last term and the home faithful will also see the likes of Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Wesley Fofana make trips back to the East Midlands.
The Blues sit third in the table as things stand but just one victory from their last five Premier League outings means they can ill-afford any slip-ups at the King Power. Maresca has a few injury concerns ahead of the weekend but Chelsea boast a squad deep enough to manage even the most arduous of injury lists.
Here is how Chelsea could line up at the weekend.
GK: Robert Sanchez – The Spaniard is yet to convince under Maresca as the importance of his distribution and composed feet increases. However, he’s still evidently the former Leicester manager’s number one.
RB: Malo Gusto – With Reece James sidelined once again with a fresh setback, Gusto may be rushed back into the starting XI. The Frenchman pulled out of the November internationals due to an injury issue and remains a doubt to feature this weekend.
CB: Wesley Fofana – Fofana is another doubt heading into the weekend but the ex-Leicester centre-back should be fit to receive his chorus of boos at the King Power. Tosin Adarabioyo, Benoit Badiashile and Axel Disasi are on standby.
CB: Levi Colwill – Colwill withdrew from the England squad over the international period but that was likely a precautionary measure. The young defender will be eager for a first league clean sheet since the 3-0 win over West Ham United in September.
LB: Marc Cucurella – After falling out of favour in recent weeks, Cucurella produced a mightily impressive display to stifle Bukayo Saka in the 1-1 draw with Arsenal. Injuries to key Leicester forwards mean he’s unlikely to be too stretched this time out.
DM: Moises Caicedo – A lunchtime kick-off throws Caicedo’s starting spot into question after he represented Ecuador in the early hours of Wednesday morning. However, an injury to Romeo Lavia makes him an even more significant presence at the base of midfield.
DM: Enzo Fernandez – Similarly to Caicedo, Fernandez was in international action midweek before making the lengthy flight back to west London. If he’s unavailable due to fatigue, former Leicester man Dewsbury-Hall could make a rare start.
RW: Noni Madueke – Madueke has impressed during recent international breaks with England after a positive start to life under Maresca. A consistent run of matches has proved hugely beneficial for his confidence.
AM: Cole Palmer – Palmer was another withdrawal from the England squad for the final internationals of 2024 but he’s likely to feature in the number ten role on Saturday. Two games without a goal or assist is something of a drought for the exceptional attacking midfielder.
LW: Pedro Neto – The difference-maker against Arsenal before the international break with an excellent goal and impressive all-round showing, Neto has done enough to see off competition from the returning Jadon Sancho.
ST: Nicolas Jackson – The remarkable form of Christopher Nkunku and Joao Felix continues to put pressure on Jackson to maintain his lofty standards this season. He will use his pace and directness to unsettle a patchy Leicester backline.
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