Get all your news in one place.

100’s of premium titles.
One app.

Start reading

Get all your news in one place.

100’s of premium titles. One news app.

Start reading

Football London

Sport

Bobby Vincent

Frank Lampard could finally start Chelsea's strongest XI soon with injury problems easing

Chelsea Frank Lampard NGolo Kante Thiago Silva Ben Chilwell Reece James Real Madrid Christian Pulisic Marc Cucurella Raheem Sterling

Chelsea's seemingly endless injury problems have been well documented this season.

It's an issue that has made it really difficult for the squad to gain any sort of momentum. It goes some way to explaining why Chelsea have struggled so much this term in the Premier League and why the Blues, who have had four different head coaches, are in the bottom half of the table.

However, the club's injury problems are finally easing as we approach the latter stages of the 2022/23 season. Bar Armando Broja, who is missing for the remainder of the season with a cruciate ligament injury, Chelsea now have a fully fit squad with Thiago Silva returning to training this week.

But what is Chelsea's strongest XI with everybody available for selection? It's a really difficult question because of the sheer size of the Blues' squad. football.london's Bobby Vincent has a go at answering it below...

Goalkeeper: It's an area that Chelsea should address in the summer transfer window. Kepa Arrizabalaga has done alright this season. Probably enough to keep Edouard Mendy out of the XI but not enough to convince the club he should be their number one 'keeper for the foreseeable future.

Right-back: Reece James. One of the easiest decisions on the team. James is one of Chelsea's most significant players and whenever he is absent, it shows so, so much. He hasn't been his best since returning from injury recently but he will undoubtedly be the club's right-back for years to come.

Centre-backs: Wesley Fofana's season has been riddled with injury problems but whenever he has played the Frenchman has been absolutely sensational. He looks like he has all of the ingredients to be a future captain at Stamford Bridge. A very easy decision to put him in there.

Likewise, Thiago Silva continues to defy physics with his performances on a consistent basis even though he is close to being 40. The Brazilian hasn't got many years left but as long as manages to maintain the form he has shown in recent seasons, then he should be a mainstay in Chelsea's side for the foreseeable future.

Left-back: Ben Chilwell or Marc Cucurella? I've gone with Chilwell. Cucurella has struggled in his first season at Chelsea. Chilwell offers loads more in attacking areas and with the way the Blues tend to play, the full-backs are crucial to their offensive play.

Central midfielders: Now that N'Golo Kante is back and fit, the idea of a midfield three consisting of himself, Mateo Kovacic and Enzo Fernandez is an exciting one. It's something we got to see for a period in the Liverpool draw recently and it worked out well with the Blues' midfield dominating the Reds'.

Chelsea remain confident Kante will extend his stay at the club beyond this season, so it is a midfield three we could see plenty of next term. There is an argument for Mason Mount to be in the midfield somewhere, but based off this season's form it was difficult to make too much of a case.

Wingers: My first selection may irk some people: Raheem Sterling. Granted, he has not been at the level that was expected of him when he arrived last summer. However, my argument is that he has been played out of position for the majority of his time at the club.

Sterling still has so much to do in terms of improving but I think on one of the wings, rather than as one of the No.10s in a 3-4-2-1, he will raise his performance levels. On the other side, I'd go for Joao Felix. The Portugal international still needs to improve his output in terms of goals and assists but his class is there for everyone to see.

Central striker: Not too many options for Chelsea here. Kai Havertz is the man selected. He is one of the most frustrating footballers to watch because we all know how brilliant he can be but his consistency levels aren't where they should be. Saying that, the German is still Chelsea's top goal scorer this season and has to be included in the team.

Pick your team to face Real Madrid below and leave a comment to let us know your choices.