Chelsea will look to make it six wins out of six in the Europa Conference League when they face Shamrock Rovers at Stamford Bridge on Thursday night.
Enzo Maresca’s Blues have a perfect record in the competition ahead of their first ever competitive game against Irish opposition.
With Chelsea already in the last 16, Maresca is likely to rotate his squad with an eye on Sunday’s Premier League meeting with Everton.
TBR Football looks at who the Chelsea manager could name in his starting XI for the game against Shamrock.
Renato Veiga of Chelsea celebrates scoring his team's third goal with teammate Marc Guiu during the UEFA Conference League 2024/25 League Phase MD5...
Photo by Chris Lee – Chelsea FC/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
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Chelsea team news v Shamrock
Chelsea will be without the injured Reece James, Wesley Fofana and Beniot Badiashile for Thursday’s game.
Joao Felix, Carney Chukwuemeka and Ben Chilwell are doubts for the match.
Mykhaylo Mudryk is provisionally suspended from football after testing positive for a banned substance
Mudryk insists he has never knowingly taken any banned substance and vowed to prove his innocence.
The player and the club are awaiting the results of a ‘B’ sample after an “adverse finding in a routine urine test”.
🚨🔵 Maresca: “We all support Misha Mudryk”.
“The situation is a bit more clear. We have a statement from the club, who have already said what we need to say”.
“So there is not anything to add. All the players inside the training ground support and trust Misha”. pic.twitter.com/mCj36I0r81
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) December 18, 2024
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Chelsea tipped to make 10 changes against Shamrock
With Chelsea already through to the last 16, there’s a good chance Maresca will make wholesale changes for the Shamrock game.
We predict that only one player from the Brentford game will remain in the starting XI for Thursday’s match, namely Tosin Adarabioyo.
Robert Sanchez, Malo Gusto, Lewi Colwill, Marc Cucurella, Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez, Noni Madueke, Cole Palmer, Jadon Sancho and Nicolas Jackson could all drop out of the XI.
Josh Acheampong, who was praised by Maresca in wake of signing his new contract, could start again at right-back.
Renato Veiga shone against Astana and is likely to feature at left-back, with Axel Disasi at centre-back and Filip Jorgensen in goal.
Cesare Casadei and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall could start in midfield, while Pedro Neto, Christopher Nkunku and the £45million Felix could line up in front.
Marc Guiu, who Joe Cole has likened to Luis Suarez, is likely to lead the line after his impressive display against Astana.
Chelsea predicted starting XI v Shamrock Rovers
Chelsea predicted starting XI v Shamrock (4-2-3-1): Jorgensen; Acheampong, Adarabioyo, Disasi, Veiga; Casadei, Dewsbury-Hall; Neto, Nkunku, Felix; Guiu
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