Chelsea are looking to put a turbulent week to one side and get their Premier League season up and running against Wolves this weekend.
The Blues fell to a 2-0 defeat to champions Manchester City on Sunday afternoon but it has been incoming and outgoing transfer business that has dominated the headlines since.
Joao Felix has completed his permanent move to west London and after a bright pre-season with Atletico Madrid, could be in contention to make his debut this weekend.
Pedro Neto came off the bench after an hour against City to make his bow for the Blues and will also be pushing for a start against his former employers on Sunday.
Despite the Chelsea dressing room becoming increasingly wedged this summer, Enzo Maresca has insisted his focus is working on a group of 21 players.
While the situation with the club’s bloated squad is ongoing and very complicated, the Blues head coach at least has a relatively clean bill of health to work with.
Reece James will not be available this weekend with two matches left to serve on the four-match ban he received at the end of last season.
Neto hoping for a start after coming off the bench vs City (Picture: James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images)
The club captain is also nursing a hamstring injury, which rules him out of Thursday’s Europa Conference League play-off clash against Servette.
Wesley Fofana will also sit out of that midweek match but will be expected to return to the starting XI to partner Levi Colwill against Wolves.
How Chelsea could line up on Sunday…
Raheem Sterling, Ben Chilwell and Trevoh Chalobah have all been frozen out of the first-team squad by Maresca with reports also suggesting Axel Disasi is another who is not part of the Italian’s plans.
Predicted Chelsea XI to face Wolves
Sanchez, Gusto, Fofana, Colwill, Cucurella, Caicedo, Fernandez, Neto, Palmer, Felix, Jackson
Where to watch Wolves vs Chelsea? Kick-off time and TV channel
Wolves vs Chelsea kicks off at 2pm on Sunday 25 August.
However, the match is not available to watch live in the UK.
Source link
