Graham Potter has made three changes to his Chelsea side for this afternoon’s Premier League clash against Aston Villa – and the decision has been taken to replace the injured Reece James with Raheem Sterling at right wing-back.
James limped off in the victory over AC Milan in midweek with a knee injury; scans have since revealed the 22-year-old will be ruled out for the next eight weeks but will not undergo surgery. However, it leaves James in a difficult race to be fit for the World Cup.
It also means the academy graduate will be unavailable for Chelsea until after the tournament in Qatar. Given his influence in the starting XI and performances this season, that presents Potter with a problem to solve as to how he sets up his side.
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The Chelsea head coach has opted to stick with a back three despite James’ absence and he hasn’t taken the obvious decision to bring in Cesar Azpilicueta into his defence. Instead, it is Sterling who will play as a wing-back on the right flank, although he will predominantly be stationed high up the pitch.
That will leave Trevoh Chalobah will space to cover on the right of the Chelsea back three. Thiago Silva will occupy the centre of defence and Marc Cucurella comes in for Kalidou Koulibaly on the left. Ben Chilwell continues at left wing-back.
A three-man midfield is expected and that change has seen Jorginho come out of the side and Ruben Loftus-Cheek come in for the Italian. Mateo Kovacic starts once more while Mason Mount is expected to drop deeper and occupy one of the number eight positions.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who has scored three goals in his last three games, keeps his place in the attack and is expected to be partnered by Kai Havertz. The German didn’t start in midweek against Milan at San Siro but did get on the scoresheet last weekend in the victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Hakim Ziyech is not in the Chelsea squad. The winger missed the midweek victory over AC Milan due to illness but was in training on Friday ahead of the trip to the Midlands.
Chelsea: Kepa; Chalobah; Silva, Cucurella; Sterling, Kovacic, Loftus-Cheek, Mount, Chilwell; Aubameyang, Havertz
Chelsea substitutes: Mendy; Azpilicueta, Koulibaly, Chukwuemeka, Gallagher, Jorginho, Zakaria, Pulisic, Broja
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