Josh Acheampong will return as Enzo Maresca rings in the changes for the UEFA Europa Conference League match between Chelsea and Shamrock Rovers on Thursday.
Chelsea will aim to continue the perfect start to the 2024/25 UEFA Europa Conference League campaign when they welcome Shamrock Rovers to Stamford Bridge on Thursday night. And Enzo Maresca has a new roster issue that is hampering his preparations ahead of his side’s latest fixture.
Mykhailo Mudryk is the latest absentee after failing a doping test. The Ukrainian international is unavailable indefinitely and has joined Reece James (hamstring), Wesley Fofana (thigh), Benoit Badiashile (knock), and Omari Kellyman (hamstring) on the sidelines.
In addition, Maresca has been sweating over the fitness of Romeo Lavia and Joao Felix, although the former is not in the home side’s UEFA Europa Conference League squad. Meanwhile, during his pre-match press conference, the Italian tactician did not provide any fitness updates but spoke about Josh Acheampong after the youngster signed a new long-term contract. He also spoke about Tyrique George.
The Chelsea manager said, “Since pre-season I have been trying to better understand the situation with him because of his contract and this kind of thing. Finally the club has found an agreement with him and we are all happy because we are all convinced and we are all sure Josh can be a great player for this club.”
“My opinion is he has to stay close to us. So as much as we can keep him here, that is much better for me. For sure, Tyrique is going to get minutes [in the coming weeks] and we will try to help him improve day by day, because he is working with us every day – him and Josh – to get minutes in the Premier League.”
Acheampong will celebrate his new contract by joining Axel Disasi at the heart of the Chelsea defence. Harvey Vale and Marc Cucurella should be the two full-backs, with Filip Jorgensen taking his usual spot between the sticks.
As for the midfield unit, Cesare Casadei should join Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall in the double pivot, with the former serving a suspension. Tyrique George should return to the starting lineup, with Christopher Nkunku, Pedro Neto, and Marc Guiu completing the numbers in the final third.
Predicted Chelsea XI: Jorgensen; Vale, Disasi, Acheampong, Cucurella; Casadei, Dewsbury-Hall; George, Nkunku, Neto; Guiu