Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca could change his entire starting XI from the one that beat Panathinaikos 4-1 on Thursday night when Newcastle United come to Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
The Blues boss was able to leave a host of first-team regulars in West London as they jetted out to Greece for their Europa Conference League game, and he is set to ring the changes again for this weekend’s Premier League test against Eddie Howe’s side.
Of the side that started against Panathinaikos, only two are likely to keep their place against Newcastle, with Marc Cucurella and Enzo Fernandez expected to start on Sunday – although Maresca has options to replace both. However he is expected to make at least NINE changes this weekend, with Cole Palmer likely to start.
The Premier League’s in-form star didn’t even travel in midweek, and will come back into the side along with striker Nicolas Jackson, and wingers Jadon Sancho and Noni Madueke in an entirely new forward line. If Fernandez keeps his place, he will likely be joined by Mosies Caicedo in the engine room, with more changes at the back.
Roberto Sanches will replace Filip Jorgensen in goal, with Reece James returning at right-back and a central defensive partnership of Wesley Fofana and Levi Colwill. Fofana and Cucurella missed Chelsea’s defeat at Liverpool through suspension last week, but return to the squad, with Tosin Adarabioyo and Malo Gusto potentially making way.
Maresca also has Romeo Lavia available to him after an lengthy injjury absence, with the former Southampton midfielder making his return at Anfield last weekend. Ben Chilwell could also return to the squad after recovering from injury problems.
That still leaves the likes of Pedro Neto, Joao Felix, Mykhailo Mudryk, Christopher Nkunku, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Axel Disasi as back-up options for Maresca.
Predicted Chelsea line-up vs Newcastle United: Sanchez; James, Fofana, Colwill, Cucurella; Fernandez, Caicedo, Madueke, Palmer, Sancho, Jackson.
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