Benoit Badiashile picked up an injury for Chelsea the day before he was due to play against Brentford, **football.london** understands. Instead of the Frenchman, Enzo Maresca turned to Tosin Adarabioyo at the heart of defence.
[Chelsea selected Adarabioyo on Thursday away to Astana in the Conference League.](https://www.football.london/chelsea-fc/fixtures-results/acheampong-wows-veiga-dewsbury-halls-30572339) That suggested that Badiashile, who started away to Tottenham last Sunday, was due to keep his place.
He suffered a late knock in training on Saturday and has instead been ruled out. Marc Cucurella, Levi Colwill, and Malo Gusto all returned to the side after being left at Cobham in midweek.
Romeo Lavia and Joao Felix are both absent from the matchday squad at Stamford Bridge as well. Mykhailo Mudryk also remains out having missed games in recent weeks through illness.
For Lavia, there is hope that he will be back in time to face Everton next weekend. Chelsea first face Shamrock Rovers in Europe on Thursday but Lavia will not feature having been left out of the squad for the competition's group phase.
"Benoit had a problem yesterday during the session," Maresca confirmed. "For now, we do not know how long he will be out for. As for Romeo, he can be available for the next game."
Felix, who has been less involved in the Premier League than his attacking colleagues, was seen at SW6. He was along with almost all of the first-team players in being left at home [whilst a young group travelled over eight hours by plane to Khazakstan.](https://www.football.london/chelsea-fc/news/chelsea-just-confirmed-first-january-30579333)
Young trio Sam Rak-Sakyi, Tyrique George, and Josh Acheampong all started in Almaty and got a place on the bench as well. Pedro Neto is suspended for the game having picked up five yellow cards already this season.
Noni Madueke, Colwill, Robert Sanchez, Gusto, Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez, Cole Palmer, Nicolas Jackson, and Jadon Sancho were all kept safe earlier this week as well and returned to face Brentford. Chelsea enter the game with a chance to close the gap at the top to Liverpool to just two points, albeit after playing a game more.
The Reds drew 2-2 with Fulham on Saturday whilst Arsenal also dropped points, falling to a stalemate with Everton. Chelsea can move seven clear of Manchester City in fifth as well after they were beaten 2-1 by Manchester United in a late comeback at the Etihad Stadium.