Astanavs.Chelsea

The Blues are currently one of two teams - the other being Legia Warsaw - to hold a 100% record in the table after four matches, essentially ensuring that they will secure automatic qualification for the last 16 with one more point.

With Shamrock Rovers to travel to Stamford Bridge next week, the Premier League giants will be confident of cruising over the line, yet they must first negotiate what can only be described as an unwanted trip to Kazakhstan.

As well as the 7,000-mile round-trip, Chelsea face playing in conditions between -6C and -10C at the Almaty Ortalyk Stadion on Thursday.

Although Maresca has willingly rotated his starting lineup for Conference League fixtures, he must decide which senior players that he is willing to risk for a fixture that takes place three days before a key Premier League fixture against Brentford on Sunday evening.

Six academy players added to squad

As per the UEFA website and relayed by the Daily Mail, there are now 11 academy players who are listed in Chelsea's squad for the Conference League.

Samuel Rak-Sakyi and Tyrique George have already been used in this competition, while Josh Acheampong has seemingly been reintegrated into first-team contention on the back of alleged progress in contract negotiations.

Kiano Dyer has also been an unused substitute for two of the four League Phase fixtures, and 17-year-old forward Shumaira Mheuka is another who has previously travelled with the squad.

The other six players who are now available for selection are Harrison Murray-Campbell, Kaiden Wilson, Harrison McMahon, Ato Ampah, Max Merrick and Richard Olise.

While a number of debuts could plausibly be given in Kazakhstan, Maresca must now decide which senior players will also feature on the trip.

Which senior players are most likely to travel?

The unused substitutes from Sunday's 4-3 victory over Tottenham Hotspur - Filip Jorgensen, Axel Disasi, Tosin Adarabioyo and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall - appear likely to take on the senior roles on this trip.

Renato Veiga could also travel having only been used as a 91st-minute replacement versus Spurs, while Joao Felix falls into the same bracket.

Mykhaylo Mudryk may return from illness to feature in the group, with Carney Chukwuemeka and Marc Guiu also in line for game time.

When adding another goalkeeper in Lucas Bergstrom to the mix, that creates a potential squad of 21. That number of players were taken to Germany for the game versus Heidenheim last time out.

Written by

Darren Plant