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Chelseavs.Bournemouth

sportsmole.co.uk, 17 May 2024, 18:28
Chelsea could be without as many as seven players for their final Premier League fixture of the season at home against Bournemouth on Sunday afternoon.

Romeo Lavia (thigh), Wesley Fofana (knee), Enzo Fernandez (groin) and Robert Sanchez (unspecified) are all undergoing their respective reconditioning/rehabilitation programmes and remain unavailable for selection.

Mykhaylo Mudryk is also ruled out due to concussion protocols after he was forced off in Chelsea's 2-1 win at Brighton & Hove Albion on Wednesday, while Reece James is suspended after receiving a straight red card for kicking out at Joao Pedro.

Christopher Nkunku got his name on the scoresheet against Brighton after replacing Mudryk just before half time, and the Frenchman will be looking to get more minutes under his belt this weekend having endured an injury-hit campaign. A start against Bournemouth is unlikely, though.

Thiago Silva, who will bid farewell to the Blues ahead of his summer transfer to Fluminense, will be hoping to feature in some capacity, but he faces competition from Benoit Badiashile, Trevoh Chalobah and Levi Colwill for a start in central defence; Axel Disasi was left out of Chelsea's squad entirely in midweek, but he should be in contention to return on Sunday.

In the absence of James, Malo Gusto is expected to continue at right-back, while left-back Ben Chilwell will be looking to force his way back into Mauricio Pochettino's first XI at the expense of Marc Cucurella.

Carney Chukwuemeka has returned to team training after a spell on the sidelines with a knee injury, but he is not expected to displace either Moises Caicedo or Conor Gallagher in midfield, while Premier League Young Player of the Season Cole Palmer - who has 22 league goals to his name - is set to continue in the number 10 role.

Nicolas Jackson is expected to lead the line and will be looking to add to his 17 goals in all competitions, while Raheem Sterling and Noni Madueke could be tasked with playing on the flanks.

Chelsea possible starting lineup: Petrovic; Gusto, Chalobah, Badiashile, Cucurella; Caicedo, Gallagher; Madueke, Palmer, Sterling; Jackson

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