Enzo Maresca will have a lot to mull over as the majority of his first team players jet off to represent their countries during this international break.
A poor run for his side culminated with the defeat to Arsenal in the final league game before the break, leaving them looking over their shoulders at the chasing pack behind them.
The Blues can put some of their bad form down to a plethora of injuries that have massively affected them recently, most notably the one to Nicolas Jackson that has left them without a recognised striker since the start of February.
Since then, both Noni Madueke and Cole Palmer have joined him on the treatment table, although there is optimism that they can welcome some of these players back ahead of their next game.
The Blues take on London rivals Tottenham at Stamford Bridge in their first match back, with a win being crucial to keep up their efforts to achieve their targets this season.
Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images
Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images
Chelsea predicted XI vs Tottenham
Maresca will be hoping to welcome a number of key players back for that game, and The Chelsea Chronicle have given an early prediction for the side who will line up against Spurs on the 3rd of April.
Robert Sanchez
Chelsea fans are far from keen on the decision for Robert Sanchez to return to the first team squad at Stamford Bridge, however Maresca has backed Sanchez as his Premier League goalkeeper at this stage ahead of Filip Jorgensen.
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Reece James
Despite the fact that Reece James is being tipped for a midfield role in the future at Chelsea, he will return to the right-back position for the London derby. The club captain absolutely loves the Blues, and will be desperate to help them return to the top table in Europe.
Wesley Fofana
Wesley Fofana has primarily played at right-back since making his return from injury in recent weeks, although the Frenchman starts in the heart of defence in our predicted XI. It is clear that a partnership of Fofana and Levi Colwill was Maresca’s go-to earlier in the season, and he will be delighted to be able to form that again at a key time.
Levi Colwill
This means that Levi Colwill will remain in the starting side after jetting off to represent England under Thomas Tuchel, and he will be more delighted than most at the recent return of Fofana to the starting side.
Marc Cucurella
Arguably Chelsea’s most reliable player in the last few weeks, Marc Cucurella will continue at left-back. The Spaniard is the only natural option to play on that side since Renato Veiga’s departure, and everyone will be praying he returns from Spain duty unscathed.
Moises Caicedo
Rivalling Cucurella for the honour of most consistent Chelsea player this season, Moises Caicedo will of course return to the starting side when Premier League action is back. The South Americans at the club have the added boost of an extra few days until their first game.
Photo by Mark Leech/Offside/Offside via Getty Images
Photo by Mark Leech/Offside/Offside via Getty Images
Romeo Lavia
Some of Chelsea’s best performances this season have come when Romeo Lavia has started in midfield, however his availability has let him down again during this campaign. However, the young man was back off the bench against Arsenal at the weekend, and will start against their fellow North London side.
Enzo Fernandez
The presence of Lavia will allow Enzo Fernandez to continue to contribute in attack, the position he has looked most comfortable in this season. The World Cup winner is in the same boat as Caicedo in terms of being delighted there are a few more days of recovery in store for him at Cobham.
Cole Palmer
Assuming that Cole Palmer will miss the international fixtures with England, there is hope that his scan has proven it is only a minor injury he will need to deal with, and he can return to the starting side against Spurs. We have him lining up off the right, with Noni Madueke also close to making his return.
Pedro Neto
The shining light of the attack in recent weeks, Pedro Neto has done as much as he can to fill the void of a striker, however we have him being given the opportunity to start of the left of attack against Spurs.
Nicolas Jackson
This is because we are tipping Nicolas Jackson to make his first start in two months after his injury woes against the side he scored his only Premier League hat-trick against last season. It is hard to put into words how much the Blues have missed the striker, however it is clear that Palmer has performed worse without Jackson available.