Enzo Maresca has seemingly selected an unorthodox Chelsea XI for Sunday's Premier League fixture versus Aston Villa.
The Italian has often played with inverted full-backs during his short reign, yet rarely started with just three out-and-out defenders.
Wesley Fofana, Levi Colwill and Marc Cucurella are in line to feature in a back three, with two wingers seemingly to be deployed as wing-backs.
Pedro Neto, who has not played since the international break, and Jadon Sancho, fresh from his impressive outing at Heidenheim on Thursday, have gotten the nod.
For the first time since the early weeks of the season, the trio of Moises Caicedo, Romeo Lavia and Enzo Fernandez are all selected in the engine room.
That appears to leave Cole Palmer playing in a free role behind Nicolas Jackson in the final third, with Malo Gusto, Noni Madueke and Joao Felix among those who have missed out on selection.
If Maresca opts for a back four, Caicedo could be used at right-back, but his form in midfield this season would suggest that such a move out wide is unlikely.
Aston Villa boss Unai Emery on September 17, 2024.© Imago
Villa make two changes
Meanwhile, Unai Emery has made just the two changes to his Villa XI from the goalless draw with Juventus in midweek.
Ezri Konsa is preferred to Diego Carlos in the centre of defence, while Jaden Philogene is provided with a start ahead of Leon Bailey on the right flank.
Amadou Onana misses out on a place on the substitutes' bench despite having made progress in his recovery from an injury picked up during the international break.
Chelsea XI: Sanchez; Fofana, Colwill, Cucurella; Neto, Caicedo, Lavia, Fernandez, Sancho; Palmer, Jackson
Subs: Jorgensen, Tosin, Badiashile, Veiga, Gusto, Madueke, Mudryk, Felix, Nkunku
Aston Villa XI: Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne; Philogene, Tielemans, Kamara, McGinn; Rogers; Watkins
Subs: Olsen, Diego Carlos, Mings, Maatsen, Bogarde, Barkley, Buendia, Bailey, Duran
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