Astanavs.Chelsea

Wesley Fofana, Romeo Lavia, Cole Palmer, Ben Chilwell and Marcus Bettinelli are all ineligible having not been selected in Chelsea's Conference League squad; the former two are sidelined with injuries anyway and are joined in the treatment room by Reece James (hamstring).

Cesare Casadei will also miss Thursday's game due to suspension after being sent off in the Blues' 2-0 win at Heidenheim last time out, while Mykhaylo Mudryk (illness) will be assessed ahead of kickoff.

After watching his senior side beat Tottenham Hotspur 4-3 in the Premier League last weekend, Enzo Maresca is set to ring the changes against Astana and could call upon some youngsters as 11 academy players have been listed in their Conference League squad.

18-year-old winger Tyrique George and 19-year-old midfielder Samuel Rak-Sakyi have already been used in the Conference League this term, the former started in a thumping 8-0 win over FC Noah last month and will hope to force his way back into the first XI on Thursday.

Filip Jorgensen is set to replace Robert Sanchez in goal, while Maresca could also recall defensive trio Axel Disasi, Tosin Adarabioyo and Renato Veiga, as well as midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.

Christopher Nkunku, who became the first Chelsea player to score in his first four major European games for the club with a strike against Heidenheim, is expected to begin in attack along with Marc Guiu, while Noni Madueke, Joao Felix and Jadon Sancho are also in contention to start.

Chelsea possible starting lineup: Jorgensen; Acheampong, Disasi, Tosin, Veiga; Rak-Sakyi, Dewsbury-Hall; George, Nkunku, Felix; Guiu

Written by

Oliver Thomas