Chelsea welcome back Cole Palmer to face Nottingham Forest as Enzo Marescarecalls his big guns today.
The Blues made 11 changes for Thursday’s 4-2 Conference League win over Gent and the likes of Palmer, Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo all return at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
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Palmer scored four goals in last weekend’s 4-2 win over Brighton but got a rest in midweek after Chelsea left him out of their European squad.
Reece James remains sidelined with a hamstring issue but Maresca has no fresh injury concerns, though Carney Chukwuemeka missed the Gent win through illness.
“Carney was in the squad [for Gent] but didn’t feel well during the night,” said Maresca ahead of the Forest game.
“There is no update on the rest, everyone else is available. The only one who isn’t is Reece James, who is still out. The rest are available.”
Robert Sanchez returns in goal after Filip Jorgensen started on Thursday, while Malo Gusto, Wesley Fofana, Levi Colwill and Marc Cucurella come back into defence.
Noni Madueke and Jadon Sancho flank Palmer in his No10 role behind Nicolas Jackson.
A win over Forest will ensure Chelsea go into the international break in the top four.
Confirmed team news
Chelsea XI: Sanchez; Gusto, Fofana, Colwill, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernandez; Madueke, Palmer, Sancho; Jackson
Subs: Jorgensen, Disasi, Tosin, Veiga, Lavia, Neto, Mudryk, Felix, Nkunku
Nottingham Forest XI: Sels, Murillo, Anderson, Gibbs-White, Wood, Hudson-Odoi, Ward-Prowse, Moreno, Yates, Milenkovic, Aina
Subs: Miguel, Morato, Williams, Awoniyi, Dominguez, Jota, Elanga, Sosa, Boly
Injured: Reece James, James, Kellyman
Time and date: 2pm BST on Sunday October 6, 2024
Venue: Stamford Bridge
