Sports Mole takes an in-depth look at how Chelsea could line up for Sunday’s Premier League London derby with West Ham United.
A decimated Chelsea side have been handed yet another injury concern ahead of Sunday’s Premier League London derby with West Ham United at Stamford Bridge.
The Blues deservedly beat Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 on Thursday without the services of 14 men, as Axel Disasi (knock), Levi Colwill (toe), Christopher Nkunku (thigh), Enzo Fernandez (hernia), Wesley Fofana (knee), Romeo Lavia (thigh), Lesley Ugochukwu (thigh), Reece James (thigh), Raheem Sterling (back), Malo Gusto (knee), Ben Chilwell (knee), Carney Chukwuemeka (knee), Thiago Silva (groin) and Robert Sanchez (unspecified) took their seats on the overpacked sidelines.
Mauricio Pochettino was a few minutes away from rejoicing in a victory with no additional fitness woes, but Alfie Gilchrist was an enforced withdrawal towards the end, vacating his place to debutant Josh Acheampong.
There has been no official word on Gilchrist’s issue, but the lack of updates suggests that he is not suffering from anything severe, so Acheampong’s hopes of making a first Premier League start on his 18th birthday may be unfounded.
If Gilchrist can shake off his midweek concern, the academy product will no doubt rejoin Benoit Badiashile, Marc Cucurella, Trevoh Chalobah and Djordje Petrovic at the back, unless Colwill and Disasi can force their way back into contention.
Cesare Casadei is arguably the most senior outfielder on the Chelsea bench at present, but Conor Gallagher and Moises Caicedo are primed to continue in the engine room, as Cole Palmer pulls the strings just ahead of them.
Nkunku was back in team training before the win over Spurs, but even if he exits the infirmary, his history of injuries means that he should not be risked from the start on Sunday, where Noni Madueke, Nicolas Jackson and Mykhaylo Mudryk should join forces in attack.
Chelsea possible starting lineup:
Petrovic; Gilchrist, Chalobah, Badiashile, Cucurella; Caicedo, Gallagher; Madueke, Palmer, Mudryk; Jackson
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