Chelsea news as Mauricio Pochettino forced into some big changes against Fulham with injuries and suspensions
Mauricio Pochettino continues to work without a set of key players as Chelsea prepare to take on west London rivals Fulham. The Blues have been struggling with injuries for much of the season and now there are suspensions to add into the mix of issues being balanced by the head coach.
Against Brighton in midweek Pochettino turned to an unorthodox backline that included Marc Cucurella at right-back with Axel Disasi and Levi Colwill acting as a new central pairing, Ben Chilwell played his first game of the season at left-back. However, with the expected return of Thiago Silva into the team, there are new questions.
Cucurella, for all his tenacity and unrelenting effort on Wednesday, is yet to play a single minute in the league and is out of the mainstream plans. However, mainstream isn’t a word used by Chelsea at the moment and there are very few convincing options otherwise.
Chilwell, who was moved into defence having been used as a makeshift attacker for much of the season so far, finding himself on the bench in the past two league games, isn’t fit to play having picked up a hamstring injury late on in the Brighton clash. It could be much worse going forward as well.
“Bad news,” Pochettino said on Friday. “The doctor told me is it is a bad injury but we need to assess in the next few days the period that it is going to be. It doesn’t look good. It’s difficult to know, the club will communicate.”
Meanwhile Pochettino will have to balance the addition of Silva, who has been instrumental in organising and creating at the back, with the need for mobility. His inclusion in the squad, and most likely the starting XI, will be aided by Moises Caicedo in front of him. The Ecuadorian was seen hobbling at the end of the Carabao Cup clash but is in contention to play once more.
Full Chelsea squad revealed for Fulham with Armando Broja dilemma and Ben Chilwell replacement
Chelsea news as Mauricio Pochettino forced into some big changes against Fulham with injuries and suspensions
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ByTom ColeyUS audience writer
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Chelsea defender Ben Chilwell
Ben Chilwell is set to miss an extended period for Chelsea with injury (Image: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
Mauricio Pochettino continues to work without a set of key players as Chelsea prepare to take on west London rivals Fulham. The Blues have been struggling with injuries for much of the season and now there are suspensions to add into the mix of issues being balanced by the head coach.
Against Brighton in midweek Pochettino turned to an unorthodox backline that included Marc Cucurella at right-back with Axel Disasi and Levi Colwill acting as a new central pairing, Ben Chilwell played his first game of the season at left-back. However, with the expected return of Thiago Silva into the team, there are new questions.
Cucurella, for all his tenacity and unrelenting effort on Wednesday, is yet to play a single minute in the league and is out of the mainstream plans. However, mainstream isn’t a word used by Chelsea at the moment and there are very few convincing options otherwise.
Chilwell, who was moved into defence having been used as a makeshift attacker for much of the season so far, finding himself on the bench in the past two league games, isn’t fit to play having picked up a hamstring injury late on in the Brighton clash. It could be much worse going forward as well.
“Bad news,” Pochettino said on Friday. “The doctor told me is it is a bad injury but we need to assess in the next few days the period that it is going to be. It doesn’t look good. It’s difficult to know, the club will communicate.”
Meanwhile Pochettino will have to balance the addition of Silva, who has been instrumental in organising and creating at the back, with the need for mobility. His inclusion in the squad, and most likely the starting XI, will be aided by Moises Caicedo in front of him. The Ecuadorian was seen hobbling at the end of the Carabao Cup clash but is in contention to play once more.
READ MORE:Moises Caicedo sends seven-word Chelsea message amid injury fears and angry Brighton moment
READ MORE:Chelsea already have perfect Ben Chilwell replacement after injury scare as Fulham change forced
The midfield is no longer the point of concern for Pochettino despite missing summer signing Romero Lavia. With Enzo Fernandez and Conor Gallagher rested for most of the midweek action there is an option to rotate Lesley Ugochukwu out at Craven Cottage. Alex Matos, so impressive since arriving from Norwich and into the development squad, could get another call up for the squad.
It is the frontline that cracks have started to open. Pochettino was reluctant to force Armando Broja back too soon, saying last week that he was only ready to play 30 minutes against the Seagulls – he got considerably less than that in reality – and it would be a big step to throw him in for a first start just days later.
There is a double boost though with Pochettino hoping to call upon Carney Chukwuemeka and Noni Madueke, neither of which has played consistently this season. “Maybe Carney [back for Monday] and Noni also after his injury for the national team. Hopefully these two players will be available,” he said.
The issue for Pochettino is that without Nicolas Jackson – suspended due to reaching the limit of five yellow cards already – he only has Broja available as a senior striker. Deivid Washington is likely to travel once more but is yet to play despite the team being in a position to chase games in recent weeks.
Madueke’s return could lead to Washington missing out but once more that would leave Pochettino short of natural central players even if he did go on to admit that a false nine could be used. “We have a few options with a striker and without a striker. We need to assess the whole squad after the game,” he said, potentially hinting at the chance for Broja to start.
For Chelsea, there are certainly ways to rejig the squad to fit what is needed but none of those yet include Reece James or Christopher Nkunku, leaving a massive hole. For Fulham it will be even harder due to the absence of Malo Gusto and Jackson on top of an already lengthy injury list that continues to grow.
For now it appears that the issues just move from position to position across the field and keeping a settled group is becoming harder and harder. What is for certain is it is going to be another youthful-looking group. Here, football.london predicts the 20-man squad that will be used at Craven Cottage.
Goalkeepers: Rob Sanchez, Djorde Petrovic
Defenders: Axel Disasi, Thiago Silva, Levi Colwill, Marc Cucurella, Ian Maatsen, Alfie Gilchrist, Josh Brooking.
Midfielders: Enzo Fernandez, Moises Caicedo, Conor Gallagher, Lesley Ugochukwu, Carney Chukwuemeka
Attackers: Raheem Sterling, Mykhailo Mudryk, Deivid Washington, Armando Broja, Cole Palmer, Noni Madueke
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