Christopher Nkunku is absent tonight for Chelsea's trip to Middlesbrough, joining a long injury list which includes Ben Chilwell, Carney Chukwuemeka and Benoit Badiashile.
The Blues travel to the Riverside Stadium on Tuesday night for the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final tie.
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Nkunku remains sidelined with the hip problem that kept him out of the 4-0 win over Preston in the FA Cup third round on Saturday. He could return to face Fulham in a west London derby in the Premier League next weekend.
Chilwell, Chukwuemeka and Badiashile are all closing in on their respective returns from injury, but are being assessed on an ongoing basis and this match comes too soon. Trevoh Chalobah, Reece James, Marc Cucurella, Robert Sanchez, Wesley Fofana, Lesley Ugochukwu and Romeo Lavia remain out.
Djorde Petrovic continues as the Chelsea goalkeeper in front of an established back four of Malo Gusto, Axel Disasi, Thiago Silva and Levi Colwill.
Conor Gallagher is recalled after being rested against Preston and starts in midfield alongside Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez. Cole Palmer and Noni Madueke start on the flanks amid a good run of form.
Nicolas Jackson is at the Africa Cup of Nations with Senegal, but Armando Broja does not get another chance to impress up front, with Raheem Sterling seemingly starting in a central role.
Starting XI: Petrovic; Gusto, Disasi, Silva, Colwill; Enzo, Caicedo, Gallagher; Madueke, Palmer, SterlingSubs: Bettinelli, Bergstrom, Gilchrist, Williams, Golding, Mudryk, Washington, Broja
Time and date: 8pm GMT on Tuesday January 9, 2024
Venue: Riverside Stadium, Middlesbrough
TV channel: Sky Sports
