Evening Standard
·24 September 2024
Evening Standard
·24 September 2024
Enzo Maresca is expected to make plenty of Blues changes for third-round clash at Stamford Bridge
Chelsea are expected to be much-changed for tonight’s Carabao Cup third-round tie against Barrow, with Ben Chilwell set to make his first appearance of the season.
Chilwell was part of a group of players frozen out by new manager Enzo Maresca earlier this summer as the Italian looked to trim a bloated first-team squad in west London.
While the majority of those players have since been sold or loaned, however, Chelsea were unable to find a buyer for Chilwell ahead of last month’s transfer deadline and the England international has instead been reintegrated into the squad.
Asked whether Chilwell and midfielder Carney Chukwuemeka, as well as youngsters Tyrique George and Josh Acheampong, could be involved against the League Two leaders at Stamford Bridge, Maresca said on Monday: “They’re going to be the ones in the squad for tomorrow.
“Some, we’ll see if they start from the beginning, but they’ll all be on the bench and hopefully we can give them some minutes.”
Maresca also confirmed that right-back Malo Gusto is fit after missing the last two Premier League matches with a hamstring problem, though whether the Frenchman is risked on Tuesday remains to be seen.
Midfielder Romeo Lavia is still sidelined but Maresca revealed that the former Southampton man is expected to be back for the weekend’s home game against Brighton in the top-flight.
Predicted Chelsea XI (4-2-3-1): Jorgensen; Disasi, Tosin, Badiashile, Chilwell; Veiga, Dewsbury-Hall; Neto, Felix, Mudryk; Nkunku
Injured: Lavia, James
Time and date: 7:45pm BST on Tuesday September 24, 2024
Venue: Stamford Bridge
TV channel: Sky Sports