Chelsea are set to be without three central defenders for their opening Premier League fixture of the new season against Crystal Palace on Sunday.
Levi Colwill has suffered an unfortunate ACL injury that will sideline him for much of the season, joining Wesley Fofana and Benoit Badiashile on the treatment table in Chelsea’s defence.
That means Tosin Adarabioyo and Trevoh Chalobah are set to start at the back, with Jorrell Hato still being eased into the squad following his move from Ajax.
Romeo Lavia is another player missing with injury at present, so the midfield picks itself, with Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo set to line up behind a free-roaming Cole Palmer.
Palmer scored 15 times in the Premier League last season, despite suffering a very lengthy drought in front of goal, but he was back in form at the Club World Cup, and many expect that to continue into the new season.
Nicolas Jackson is suspended after his red card for violent conduct against Newcastle United late last season, so Joao Pedro is in line to start, even though fellow summer recruit Liam Delap scored twice against AC Milan in a friendly last week.
If manager Enzo Maresca opts to stick with the XI that started against Milan last week, that will see Reece James preferred to Malo Gusto at right-back, while the two wide attacking players will be Pedro Neto and new signing Jamie Gittens.
Chelsea possible starting lineup:
Sanchez; James, Tosin, Chalobah, Cucurella; Enzo, Caicedo; Neto, Palmer, Gittens; Joao Pedro
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