How Chelsea might line up after Pochettino revealed that the Blues only have 15 players available for the weekend.
- Mauricio Pochettino is set to have 15 players for their clash with Bournemouth
- The Blues come into the match off the back of a defeat to Nottingham Forest
- Listen to the latest episode of Mail Sport’s podcast ‘It’s All Kicking Off!’
Mauricio Pochettino has announced that Chelsea will only have 15 players available for Sunday’s Premier League match against Bournemouth.
Todd Boehly’s pricey squad has buckled under the weight of injury difficulties in recent weeks, despite spending another £400 million in the summer. Pochettino may call on some of his junior players to round up his matchday squad.
High-profile absentees include Christopher Nkunku, Wesley Fofana, Armando Broja, Reece James, Romeo Lavia, and Benoit Badiashile.
Pochettino did say that James, who had a hamstring injury in training just days after the tie with Liverpool, is close to returning.
The Blues enter their match against the Cherries fresh off a stunning defeat to Nottingham Forest. Their sole league victory of the season came against Luton Town, with Raheem Sterling and Nicolas Jackson scoring in a 3-0 victory.
So how could Chelsea line-up against Bournemouth with only 15 players fit?
This weekend, Robert Sanchez is anticipated to start against the Cherries. The Spaniard, who joined the Blues from Brighton and Hove Albion this summer, has surrendered five goals in his first four appearances.
In defence, Axel Disasi appears poised to start on the right side of Pochettino’s back three once more. The Frenchman got off to a flying start, scoring on his debut against Liverpool, but has since looked a little wobbly at the back.
Thiago Silva is anticipated to start in the heart of Chelsea’s defensive once more. With Benoit Badiashile set to return to the first squad, the ever-present Brazilian could be competing for a starting spot shortly.
Levi Colwill had an outstanding season on loan at Brighton last season. Since rejoining Chelsea in the summer, the youthful centre back has started every Premier League game and is expected to play an important part on Sunday.
In Reece James’ absence, Malo Gusto has filled in for the young English defender. While he has looked a bit uncomfortable at times, Chelsea fans need to be aware that this is his first season in the Premier League.
Enzo Fernandez has been a joy to watch since he signed for the club from Benfica back in January. The midfielder, who won the World Cup with Argentina last year, has been the club’s star player since he signed – with the 22-year-old hoping to inspire the Blues to their second league win of the season this weekend.
Moises Caicedo, like Disasi, is another player who signed for the club this summer. The midfielder, who put pen-to-paper on an eight-year deal in August, will be hoping to start showing what he is capable of after a poor outing against Forest before the international break.
This season, Ben Chilwell has taken a lot of flak. In Chelsea’s first few games, the 26-year-old has battled for form and has appeared to be a passenger at times. On his day, he is probably one of the league’s top defenders, and Blues fans are hoping he can deliver this weekend.
So far, Raheem Sterling has been one of Chelsea’s standout performers. This season, the winger has showed glimpses of his potential. Sterling, who scored twice against Luton Town, will be eager to impress from the start on Sunday.
Cole Palmer appears set to earn his debut Chelsea start after joining from Manchester City this summer. During the Blues’ defeat to Forest, the young Englishman came on and showed good signs. After labouring for minutes at the Etihad, Palmer will have a lot to show.
Nicolas Jackson is expected to lead the line for Chelsea this weekend. The forward, who joined the London side in the summer, has shown bright sparks in his early days for the Blues. His only goal for the club so far came in their win over Luton at Stamford Bridge.
