Graham Potter is searching for his best Chelsea starting XI after the club’s record £600million spending spree across two transfer windows.
British-record signing Enzo Fernandez and Noni Madueke made their respective first appearances in the 0-0 draw with Fulham to set a new club record of 16 debuts in a single season, breaking a mark that had stood since 1909.
Indeed, since Potter joined Chelsea in September he has made 64 line-up changes in just 15 Premier League games, more than any other club in the division.
That lack of consistency in selection partly comes down to the new signings and the change of manager - but it is also down to injuries.
At the height of their injury crisis that lasted three months, Chelsea had a total of 12 players out.
Now, with Wesley Fofana the latest to return to training, Potter has the new problem of how to select a 20-man matchday group from his 33-man squad.
If everyone is fit, many players will be left disappointed and Potter’s decision to leave Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang out of his Champions League squad only serves to highlight that problem.
Here, Nizaar Kinsella picks his best Chelsea XI assuming every player is fit and available...
Kepa Arrizabalaga
Deciding a starting goalkeeper between Kepa and Edouard Mendy is almost impossible. There are reasons to pick both but Kepa increasingly seems to be no1 under Potter and has given his manager little reason to drop him.
Reece James
The right-back has arguably become Chelsea’s most important player, which is highlighted by the fact that the club won just 25 per cent of their games with him out injured. An easy selection decision.
Thiago Silva
The 38-year-old continues to defy his age and is another obvious choice. Silva is arguably Chelsea’s player of the season so far.
Benoit Badiashile
The £35m signing from Monaco has immediately struck up a partnership with Silva that has seen the club earn three consecutive clean sheets. It already feels like he has made a better impact than either Kalidou Koulibaly or Wesley Fofana.
Ben Chilwell
Having been injured since October, the England international returned for a cameo appearance off the bench in the Fulham game. His good set-piece delivery was immediately evident, while Marc Cucurella has struggled in his absence.
Enzo Fernandez
The British transfer-record signing played 90 minutes after just one training session to outline his status after joining on deadline day. Chelsea will expect him to be a lynchpin in midfield for many years to come.
N’Golo Kante
Little is known about what condition Kante will be in following his four months out after hamstring surgery. But his performances in 2021 that helped Chelsea win the Champions League live long in the memory and talks are ongoing over a new contract in case he can rediscover that form.
Raheem Sterling
After being labelled a marquee signing when he joined from Manchester City last summer, the England international has since been forgotten about in the excitement of the January transfer window. Sterling was one of three players to return from injury at home to Fulham and could take up an important role on the flanks again for the second half of the season.
Felix excelled away at Fulham in January before being sent off, immediately striking up a good partnership with Kai Havertz and he looked uninhibited by Chelsea’s abysmal attacking record this season.
Another of Chelsea’s big January signings, Mudryk is set for a large role at Stamford Bridge. His blistering pace sees him holding both the highest speeds recorded in a Premier League match and the Champions League this season.
Kai Havertz
With Aubameyang exiled, it feels like the No9 spot belongs to an out-of-position Havertz. The unconvincing but versatile forward has just six goals in 28 games this season but it feels too soon to throw in David Datro Fofana from the start.
Subs: Mendy, Chalobah, Azpilicueta, Cucurella, Fofana, Kovacic, Mount, Madueke, Aubameyang
Not in the matchday squad: Bettinelli, Slonina, Koulibaly, Hall, Loftus-Cheek, Zakaria, Gallagher, Chukwuemeka, Andrey Santos, Pulisic, Ziyech, Hutchinson, D Fofana, Broja (out for the season)
