Sports Mole takes an in-depth look at how Chelsea could line up for Sunday’s Premier League clash with Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has been handed a slight scare over Cole Palmer ahead of Sunday’s Premier League battle with Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux.
The PFA Young Player of the Year came on as a second-half substitute in Thursday’s Europa Conference League win over Servette, but he appeared to be clutching his hamstring towards the end of the game.
Maresca confirmed that Palmer “felt something” in the dying embers, albeit while also playing down the severity of his issue and expressing hope that he would be available for Sunday’s game.
However, with minimal recovery time and an abundance of attacking players waiting in reserve, it would make sense to avoid risking Palmer from the first whistle at Molineux, where Pedro Neto could very well start against his former employers.
The Portuguese was one of Chelsea’s bright sparks on Thursday, as were goalscorers Christopher Nkunku and Noni Madueke, both of whom have earned the right to form part of Nicolas Jackson‘s supporting cast.
That selection would leave just two midfield places up for grabs between Romeo Lavia, Enzo Fernandez, Moises Caicedo and Kieran Dewsbury-Hall, and the former two could get the nod; Lavia in particular impressed in the opening defeat to Manchester City.
Robert Sanchez did not cover himself in glory for Mateo Kovacic‘s goal in that 2-0 loss, but the Spaniard should return in front of a back four comprising Malo Gusto, Wesley Fofana, Levi Colwill and Marc Cucurella, as Reece James – who is injured anyway – serves the second of a four-game ban.
Chelsea possible starting lineup:
Sanchez; Gusto, Fofana, Colwill, Cucurella; Fernandez, Lavia; Madueke, Nkunku, Neto; Jackson
> Click here to see how Wolves could line up for this clash
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