Jadon Sancho is named on the bench for Chelsea’s clash against Aston Villa.
Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has made one change to the side that lost to Brighton last time out as captain Reece James earns a recall.
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As expected, the Blues are without Noni Madueke for tonight’s Premier League trip to Aston Villa after the winger was ruled out for weeks with a hamstring injury.
Madueke was forced off early in last weekend’s damning 3-0 defeat to Brighton and Maresca confirmed on Friday that the Englishman will be out until after next month’s international break, meaning he will also miss the chance to impress new Three Lions boss Thomas Tuchel.
Madeuke joins Wesley Fofana, Benoit Badiashile, Romeo Lavia, Nicolas Jackson and Marc Guiu on the Chelsea sidelines, with Maresca suggesting that none of those players are likely to return until the other side of the break in April.
“Fortunately we don’t have any update in terms of the ones that are injured are the same,” the Italian said. “We don’t have any additions.
“Noni probably will be out until the international break. The rest, Nico is out, Wes out, Benoit out, Romeo out, Marc Guiu out.
“Probably after the break we can have back most of them, almost all of them. That for us can be a big boost.”
Despite his side’s attacking troubles, Maresca has few options to change things up, with just four fit senior forwards at his disposal, as well as teenager Tyrique George. Mykhailo Mudryk remains provisionally suspended.
Cole Palmer, Christopher Nkunku and Pedro Neto all start at Villa Park, though it would appear it’s a change of system with the Blues deploying three central defenders and Malo Gusto and Marc Cucurella operating as wing-backs.
Confirmed team news
Chelsea XI: Jorgensen, Gusto, James (c), Chalobah, Colwill, Cucurella, Caicedo, Enzo, Palmer, Neto, Nkunku
Subs: Sanchez, Acheampong, Samuels-Smith, Tosin, Amougou, Dewsbury-Hall, George, Sancho, Mheuka
