Wesley Fofana makes his Chelsea debut against West Ham United this afternoon, and there is a recall for Conor Gallagher in midfield – but there is no room in the starting XI for either Mason Mount or Kai Havertz.
Thomas Tuchel has decided to ring the changes after a poor defeat to Southampton in midweek; the result left the Blues tenth after the opening five matches of the campaign, and a reaction is required this afternoon against a West Ham side that have started the campaign in patchy form.
Edouard Mendy keeps his place in goal for Chelsea and will be protected by a back three of Fofana, Thiago Silva and Kalidou Koulibaly. Fofana completed his £70million move from Leicester City earlier in the week and replaces Cesar Azpilicueta in the backline.
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Reece James missed the defeat on Tuesday night due to illness but returned at right wing-back. Marc Cucurella gets the nod at left wing-back as Ben Chilwell continues to wait for a return to the side; the England international hasn't started a game since the campaign's opening day at Everton.
In midfield, Gallagher is back, having missed the defeat at St Mary's due to suspension. He is likely to be given a more advanced role, with Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Mateo Kovacic playing in more defensively-minded roles.
Mout and Havertz have struggled in the early weeks of the season – neither have registered a goal or an assist – and they come out of the attack this afternoon. However, there is no Armando Broja with Raheem Sterling and Christian Pulisic set to be deployed as a front two.
Chelsea: Mendy; Fofana, Silva, Koulibaly; James, Kovacic, Loftus-Cheek, Gallagher, Cucurella; Sterling, Pulisic
Chelsea substitutes: Kepa, Azpilicueta, Chilwell, Chalobah, Jorginho, Mount, Ziyech, Broja, Havertz
