Chelsea will be playing in alien conditions when they return to Conference League action this week against Astana.
The Blues are preparing for -11 degrees temperatures, however Enzo Maresca will be travelling with the squad as they look to keep up their 100% record in Europe this season.
It has been reported as many as eight first-team debuts could be handed out, with a youthful core expected to make up the matchday squad.
The Chelsea Chronicle have predicted the XI they will name in Kazakhstan on Thursday night.
Enzo Maresca, Manager of Chelsea, gestures during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur FC and Chelsea FC at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium...
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Chelsea predicted XI vs Astana
Filip Jorgensen will be the first to brave the cold, keeping up his 100% record of featuring in the Conference League this season.
Josh Acheampong will return to the first team picture with a start straight away after his spell of being frozen out seems to be coming to an end.
This will allow Axel Disasi to return to his preferred position, having played the majority of his minutes in this competition coming in the right-back position.
He will be partnered by Benoit Badiashile, who actually admitted he didn’t know if he would be on the fight to Kazakhstan in the first place.
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At left-back, the reliable Renato Veiga will come in for Marc Cucurella.
A regular in Europe this season, Cesare Casadei is one of the most accurate passers of the ball in the competition. He will continue in the heart of midfield.
He will be joined by Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, who is still yet to make a start in the Premier League since joining Chelsea.
Carney Chukwuemeka to make first Chelsea start under Enzo Maresca
Carney Chukwuemeka of Chelsea runs with the ball during the UEFA Conference League 2024/25 League Phase MD4 match between 1. FC Heidenheim 1846 and...
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Ahead of those two, Carney Chukwuemeka will make his first start of the season, although this will mainly be down to Maresca’s ambition to protect his players.
On the right, exciting young talent Tyrique George will be handed his second first-team start, looking to get his first senior goal for the club.
The opposite wing will be occupied by Mykhailo Mudryk, who has so far been one of Chelsea’s top performers in the Conference League this season.
Up front, Marc Guiu will be looking to add to his solitary goal for the club that came in this competition earlier this season.
Chelsea Predicted XI vs Astana: Jorgensen; Acheampong, Disasi, Badiashile, Veiga; Casadei, KDH; George, Chukwuemeka, Mudryk; Guiu
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