Cole Palmer starts for Chelsea against Ipswich as he bids to end his 13-game goal drought.
Palmer was taken off at half-time in Thursday’s 3-0 Conference League win against Legia Warsaw but the substitution was pre-planned and nothing to do with any injury.
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Enzo Maresca restores goalkeeper Robert Sanchez and he also starts Nicolas Jackson.
Maresca has said Sanchez remains the Chelsea No1 and he returns to the team in place of Filip Jorgensen.
Jackson recently returned from a hamstring injury but did not start in either Chelsea’s 0-0 draw at Brentford last Sunday or the win in Warsaw.
He replaces Christopher Nkunku, who failed to score in both games and missed a second-half penalty against Legia.
In midfield, Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo both come back into the side.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall drops to the bench following starts in the last two matches.
Levi Colwill came on at half-time against Legia and is back at centre-back in place of Benoit Badiashile.
Noni Madueke scored twice in Poland after coming off the bench and earns a start here.
Marc Guiu remains injured but Maresca says he will “hopefully” play again this season, while the game comes too soon for Romeo Lavia.
“Hopefully, we can get Romeo very soon,” said Maresca. “I don't know if for the next game [against Ipswich], but he looks quite good in terms of he can be back soon.”
Wesley Fofana has been ruled out for the rest of the season with his own hamstring injury along with youngster Omari Kellyman, while Mykhailo Mudryk remains unavailable.
Starting XI: Sanchez; Chalobah, Tosin, Colwill, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernandez; Madueke, Palmer, Neto; Jackson
Subs: Jorgensen, Acheampong, Badiashile, James, Gusto, Dewsbury-Hall, George, Sancho, Nkunku
Time and date: 2pm BST on Sunday April 13, 2025
Venue: Stamford Bridge
