The 5 players who need to impress tomorrow night – and one thing Maresca can do to make himself popular | OneFootball

Chelsea’s game against Barrow tomorrow in the EFL Cup is going to give a number of players a new chance to impress.

The impressive performance of the first team against West Ham on Saturday makes it all the more important that the second string take their chances. Manager Enzo Maresca is not going to be particularly keen to change a winning team, and the eleven that started at the weekend should be very close to the one which starts later this week.

Ben Chilwell sweats in preseason.

Chelsea’s second string stars who must be ready to step up

So despite being the early rounds of a lesser competition against opposition a few divisions down, it’s an important night for some players. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall is struggling for any minutes at all at the moment, and games like this look like they will be his bread and milk this season.

Ben Chilwell is in the squad for a competitive game for the first time since Maresca joined the club. We suspect he could start at left back, with Renato Veiga used in midfield.

Joao Felix and Mykhailo Mudryk both face difficult tasks to get starts in the big games given the form of those ahead of them – this is a chance for them to really add to their highlight packages against League Two opposition.

Then there’s Christopher Nkunku – he celebrated his late winner against Bournemouth two weeks ago wildly, but he knows he’s in competition with Nicolas Jackson – who struck back with a good showing against West Ham. That battle for starts will continue all year, and hopefully drive each of them on to new heights.

Plus who knows, Maresca might even bless us with an appearance for an academy kid or two? It’s the one thing really frustrating fans right now, and this is a great chance for an olive branch.