Chelsea return to Premier League against West Ham at the weekend with a trip to the London Stadium. The Blues are unbeaten in their last three matches but still sit ninth in the division and have struggled to really excite, despite some more secure offerings.
The Hammers have also endured a difficult season under David Moyes and lie 16th in the Premier League table but have picked up a draw against Newcastle United and a win over Everton in their previous two matches in the division.
Graham Potter made it clear he was looking for more attacking cohesion from his side as his vast array of new parts continue to come together. The 47-year-old is also hoping new signings such as Mykhailo Mudryk and Noni Madueke can continue to provide some excitement and direct play.
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The Blues boss explained following the draw with Fulham: "Absolutely. That's what we're trying to do. You've seen the profile of the players that we've brought in - they're exciting. They're exciting for the now but they also think they can improve and get better as the team develops. It's an investment from both parties. It's a long-term commitment so we need some stability, we need some work, we need to progress the team and that's the challenge now."
football.london takes a look at the changes Potter could make for the trip to East London.
Joao Felix return
Having been sent off on his debut against Fulham at Craven Cottage, Felix is finally available for selection again after serving a three-match ban. Potter's choice to put the Atletico Madrid loanee straight into that starting line-up perhaps suggests the impact he is expected to have in his short time at the club, and in his 58 minutes on the pitch, it seemed justified.
On his own, the Portuguese international managed to get away six shots on his Blues debut, with four hitting the target. The Blues have struggled to match that without him. In the games since, only once have Chelsea had so many shots on target as a team, while in each of the three matches before Felix arrived they were unable to match his total.
It may mean a change in shape from Potter to facilitate the 23-year-old and unleash Chelsea's shackles but it could be worthwhile.
Mason Mount rest
The Cobham product has been a key cog in Chelsea's side since he made his way into the first team. The 24-year-old is already on his way to 200 Chelsea appearances despite barely being half way through his fourth season and with his struggle to reach the peak of his powers, now may be time for a rest.
There's little doubting his quality to combine midfield and attack, and he has earned the trust of Frank Lampard, Thomas Tuchel and Potter in his time in the senior Chelsea set-up. In some ways he has perhaps become too important as it is difficult to form a team without him.
Felix does not offer a direct replacement if Potter hopes to keep the same formation as he utlised against Fulham. Mount's versatility between forming the midfield three and supporting Kai Havertz depending on the moment in the game does not fit the profile of the on-loan star.
Perhaps Carney Chukwuemeka could be an option to assist Enzo Fernandez and Conor Gallagher in the centre, with the likes of Mateo Kovacic and N'Golo Kante still unavailable. Alternatively, Ruben Loftus-Cheek could earn his way back into the matchday squad to form a base with Fernandez, with Gallagher given more licence to attack.
Ben Chilwell starts
The Chelsea defender featured for the first time following the injury he picked up in November against Dinamo Zagreb, in the final minutes of the 0-0 draw with Fulham. The Blues may have more depth on the left flank than they do accommodating for the absence of Reece James but few offer the same talents as Chilwell.
The 26-year-old offers a more direct presence that will impact the opposition box than Marc Cucurella and Chelsea have suffered without him even before this season. Chilwell could help the Blues find some fluidity going forward and will add some width to the side that may give Chelsea's forwards more freedom to roam and another option to find.
To continue his recovery, making a 60-minute outing in the same shape James did against the Cottagers, may be the correct route forward to Potter so he can make the best decision possible for the Champions League clash against Borussia Dortmund that follows.
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