Chelsea start a testing period of football with a trip to the South Coast to face Southampton on Tuesday night. The Blues will now have a bumper schedule to contend with, playing every midweek until the World Cup starts in November.
The match comes amidst a frantic end to the transfer window for Thomas Tuchel's side who are still trying to secure the signings of at least two more players with the possibility that four more bodies could yet walk through the doors at Stamford Bridge.
None of these possible reinforcements are available to Tuchel yet though, and he will also be without Conor Gallagher who is serving a ban for his red card against Leicester. Kalidou Koulibaly could return in defence though after watching on throughout his own one match ban.
