Chelsea FC have been hampered with injuries right from the backend of the previous campaign and a number of first-team stars including Antonio Rudiger and Callum Hudson-Odoi have yet to represent the club under Frank Lampard this term.
However, the above-mentioned duo are on the cusp of returning from their respective injury setbacks and we look into how the Blues could lineup when Lampard has the pair in contention for the first-team duties alongside N’Golo Kante, who has been nursing an ankle sprain.
Formation: 4-2-3-1
Predicted lineup:
Kepa Arrizabalaga is certain to start between the sticks in any occasion. In the full-back positions, Cesar Azpilicueta and Emerson should keep their positions. Azpilicueta has been poor with his performances on the right side of the defence but the Spaniard will most probably keep his place ahead of the untested Reece James while captaining the team.
At the heart of the defence, Rudiger will certainly return to the mix when the team is at full strength. One of Kurt Zouma or Andreas Christensen are likely to partner him and we are predicting Lampard could go with the latter ahead of Zouma, who has been prone to positional errors in the early parts of the current season.
In the midfield, Jorginho will certainly take up one of the slots and he could be accompanied by Kante. The Frenchman has been struggling with a nagging ankle problem but the rest over the international break may aide his return to the starting lineup.
In the attack, Mason Mount is bound to keep the number 10 role with Christian Pulisic getting the nod on the right wing where he is more familiar playing from his Dortmund days. On the opposite flank, Hudson-Odoi should make his bow after participating in normal training for nearly four weeks.
Upfront, there was no question marks anymore over the selection of Tammy Abraham. The England international warrants a starting role ahead of Olivier Giroud and Michy Batshuayi after back-to-back braces against Norwich City and Sheffield United.
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