Sports Mole takes an in-depth look at how Chelsea could line up for Thursday’s Europa Conference League playoff clash against Servette.
Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca could hand as many as four new signings their full debuts in Thursday’s Europa Conference League playoff first-leg tie with Servette at Stamford Bridge.
The Blues are set to be without captain Reece James as he continues to recover from a hamstring injury, while Marc Cucurella has emerged as a doubt after coming off in the closing stages of Chelsea’s 2-0 Premier League loss to Manchester City on Sunday with an apparent knee problem.
Maresca is expected to make changes to his starting lineup and could give each of Filip Jorgensen, Tosin Adarabioyo, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Pedro Neto their first starts for the club, the former of whom is hoping to replace Robert Sanchez in goal.
Tosin could start at centre-back alongside either Wesley Fofana or Levi Colwill, although the latter may be moved out to left-back if Cucurella is not deemed fit to start, while Ben Chilwell – who missed the defeat to Man City through illness – has been made available for transfer by Maresca.
Dewsbury-Hall came on as a substitute last weekend, but he could force his way into the first XI on Thursday, replacing one of Moises Caicedo, Romeo Lavia or Enzo Fernandez who all started Chelsea’s Premier League opener in midfield.
Neto also made a substitute appearance last time out and is now in contention to start for the first time as a Chelsea player on either flank, although he faces competition from Cole Palmer, Christopher Nkunku, Mykhaylo Mudryk, Noni Madueke and Raheem Sterling, who is facing an uncertain future at Chelsea after being left out of the matchday squad last weekend.
Nicolas Jackson was fit to start against Man City and could lead the line once again, although Maresca may consider starting to either Nkunku or Marc Guiu as a central striker against Servette.
Chelsea possible starting lineup: Jorgensen; Gusto, Tosin, Colwill, Cucurella; Fernandez, Lavia; Palmer, Dewsbury-Hall, Neto; Guiu
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