Chelseavs.Leicester

James was one of Chelsea's key men in the 2-1 win over Copenhagen in the Conference League on Thursday, scoring the opening goal in the Danish capital.

Maresca has also used James in a midfield role in the Premier League, during the 2-1 defeat at Aston Villa, and with few attacking options available, it could see the Chelsea boss revert to a three-man midfield again.

Enzo Fernandez would move further forward behind the front three, and after also scoring in midweek, that could be an attractive proposition for Maresca, especially with Cole Palmer still misfiring.

Palmer was surprisingly handed a start in Europe on Thursday, making his first appearance on the continent this season, but was unable to end a now-eight-game wait for a goal in all competitions.

Nicolas Jackson and Marc Guiu will be out for the next few weeks, while Noni Madueke is also currently absent, so the front three is likely to see Palmer, Pedro Neto and one of Christopher Nkunku or Jadon Sancho play fluidly together.

Elsewhere on the injury list, Romeo Lavia is back in training, while Malo Gusto should be fit to start after a recent knock, but Mykhaylo Mudryk remains provisionally suspended for a doping offence.

In between the sticks, Robert Sanchez played in Copenhagen on Thursday, further solidifying Filip Jorgensen's place as the league starter, despite the howler he made in conceding Aston Villa's winner in a recent 2-1 defeat.

Chelsea possible starting lineup:

Jorgensen; Gusto, Tosin, Colwill, Cucurella; James, Enzo, Caicedo; Neto, Palmer, Nkunku

Written by

Andrew Delaney