Frank Lampard is set to make changes to his Chelsea side once again for the visit of Brentford to Stanford Bridge in Wednesday evening. The Blues caretaker boss has been required to manage his resources so far this season to accommodate his stars' fitness, which has seen a number of changes in personnel and systems.
Four defeats have followed and after being knocked out of the Champions League by Real Madrid, Lampard has finally found time to spend on the training pitch with his squad. However, the 44-year-old is already without two players who started against Los Blancos with Reece James ruled out for the season and Kai Havertz still struggling with a knee issue.
Mason Mount, who came on off of the bench against Real Madrid, is also likely to miss the remainder of the campaign as he goes under the knife to deal with his pelvic issue.
READ MORE: Frank Lampard reveals why Chelsea must agree Mason Mount contract and how Blues can find success
Kepa will likely remain in goal and be shielded by a back four of Chalobah, Fofana, Silva and Chilwell and Enzo Fernandez will maintain his place in the centre of the pitch after glowing praise from the Blues boss.
The World Cup winner could be joined by the pressing forces of N'Golo Kante and Conor Gallagher, given their impressive showings in recent matches. With Kai Havertz out of contention, Lampard will need to decide whether to opt for a traditional striker but Raheem Sterling has been favoured in that position of late and could find support and versatility in João Felix and Mykahilo Mudryk.
The likes of Carney Chukwuemeka, Noni Madueke and the fit again Ruben Loftus-Cheek will all be pushing for places with Lampard suggesting players will get their chance if they deserve it.
The 44-year-old said: "If they deserve it, for sure. There are two things. There's the individual work, showing you deserve it. I'm fully for that. During my first period at the club, I came in with a transfer ban and losing big players and everyone said 'Of course, the young players get in the team'. They got into the team because they deserved it with how they trained. That's a culture and a way you have to have at a top football club. I don't think changes just for the moment, I think it should always be there.
"Players have to train, those seven games and days of training are all opportunities every day to try and show you deserve to be in the team. As I think I've probably shown as a coach, if you do that, you'll always get an opportunity with me."
Predicted XI: Kepa; Chalobah, Fofana, Silva, Chilwell; Kante, Fernandez, Gallagher; Sterling, Felix, Mudryk.
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