Predicted line-up: Two academy stars trusted again by Maresca after illness depletes options | OneFootball

Chelsea’s teams were pretty easy to predict back in the Autumn.

There was an established A team, an established B team, and no injuries or fitness questions to cause much flow between the two. Now that’s all changed. The remaining Conference League games have no room for error, and Enzo Maresca is picking very strong teams, and also has players at various stages of injury recovery to think about, as well as a cluster hit by illness in the last week.

He is now balancing both competitions much more evenly, and he can’t take anything for granted in our second leg against Copenhagen tonight with a slender 2-1 lead after the first leg not counting for much against really good opposition.

Enzo Maresca faces difficult questions over several players

Shim Mheuka prepares for his senior Chelsea debut.

The goalkeeper shuffle has reversed, so we expect to see Filip Jorgensen in goal.

In defence, Malo Gusto may still not be ready for action at left back, leaving us a little short. Marc Cucurella surely must be rested after playing a game and a half last week, with Sunday on the horizon.

We could see Levi Colwill on the left, with Benoit Badiashile and Trevoh Chalobah in the middle and Reece James at right back if he’s recovered from illness.

There will likely be a half time reshuffle as we saw last week, with James likely to come off and Wesley Fofana come on as he builds up fitness.

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall had a stinker last week but will play again simply because there’s a lack of other options in midfield. Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo are likely to get a half each, as they did in the first leg.

Christopher Nkunku hasn’t trained much this week, so Jadon Sancho will probably play on one wing with Tyrique George likely to start, either at false 9 where he ended the game last week, or out wide.

Cole Palmer started in the first leg, but will surely be rested today after a pretty punishing series of games. We’d love Shim Mheuka to get another start, and certainly there’s room for him given how many players have missed training this week.