Thomas Tuchel has made three changes to the Chelsea side that lost to Everton to face Wolves. Romelu Lukaku and Christian Pulisic both start for the Blues, with the former searching for his first Premier League in 2022.
For the Saturday afternoon clash, the German coach remains without N'Golo Kante, Jorginho, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Ben Chilwell. The Italian midfielder was forced off at Goodison Park, but the game comes too soon for him and Kante, who is yet to fully recover after picking up an injury against Manchester United. Chilwell continues his rehabilitation process while Hudson-Odoi was pictured in training earlier in the week.
Tuchel hinted that Pulisic and Lukaku could be in line to start during his press conference on Friday after being impressed by both during a rare full week of training at Cobham. The 48-year-old acknowledged that the American had a 'fantastic training week so far. He is, in some matches a huge impact from the bench.
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Much was made of Lukaku not being utilised against Everton, but Tuchel reflected that it was simply a matter of numbers. He said: "We signed a big player, and he is still a big player. He didn't come on (vs Everton) because we had three changes and used one. Unfortunately had to use one at half-time for Jorgi. Otherwise, there was a huge chance we would have had the same changes as against West Ham, where he was involved with Hakim and Pulisic to turn the game in our favour. He trained very well, and maybe he will start tomorrow. Let's see."
The introduction of the two forwards sees Mason Mount and Kai Havertz drop to the bench, where they are joined by Andreas Christensen, who was unavailable for Chelsea's last outing at Stamford Bridge. Mateo Kovacic comes into the side for his first start since returning from injury to replace Jorginho.
Chelsea XI: Mendy, Azpilicueta, Silva, Rudiger; James, Kovacic, Loftus-Cheek, Alonso; Pulisic, Lukaku, Werner.
Substitutes: Kepa, Chalobah, Christensen, Sarr, Barkley, Saul, Mount, Havertz, Ziyech
Wolves XI: Jose Sa, Jonny, Boly, Coady, Saiss, Ait-Nouri, Dendoncker, Neves, Moutinho, Jimenez, Neto.
Substitutes: Ruddy, Hoever, Marcal, Trincao, Silva, Chiquinho, Toti, Hwang, Cundle.
