Frank Lampard has hinted that he could utilise some players for the first time following his appointment as caretaker manager when Chelsea take on Brighton at Stamford Bridge. The Blues boss has been back at the club for just over a week and is already seeing in his third game in charge, with little time to make assessments on the training pitch.
The likes of Noni Madueke, Benoit Badiashile and Carney Chukwuemeka will be hoping to earn a place in Lampard's squad and to find some minutes having yet to play. However, they will still face a difficult task having not had much time to impress on the training pitch, and preparation for the return leg against Real Madrid being required, the former two players will be ineligible for that match.
Lampard said on Friday: "I want to be part of a process in this period where players have an opportunity. If they train, if they deserve to play, then they get an opportunity on the pitch and they can show what they can do. Tomorrow [Saturday] will be an opportunity for some players who didn't play in the Champions League, possibly didn't play at the weekend, to come in because it's a game where we absolutely need freshness and energy as well. So every opportunity, they should take."
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However, Kepa Arrizabalaga will retain his place with Edouard Mendy still carrying an injury despite returning to Chelsea's squad, while Reece James remains the obvious choice on the right of defence unless his fitness needs management. Ben Chilwell may be utilised on the left having been rested in the last Premier League game while Lampard may look to continue building Thiago Silva's fitness with a second start in a row.
Injury has ensured that Kalidou Koulibaly will be out for weeks leaving the likes of Trevoh Chalobah and Benoit Badiashile competing for a spot in the backline. Both could be denied should Wesley Fofana start and Lampard opt for a back four but the French defender could be rested having started Lampard's first two matches in charge.
Mason Mount showed some spark in his time on the pitch at the Bernabeu and could find his way into the side after injury. Lampard may look to use him in an advanced midfield position if he opts to rest Joao Felix, to help connect Chelsea's forward line, while N'Golo Kante continues to form a partnership with Enzo Fernandez.
Kai Havertz could return to the starting lineup as Lampard looks to fashion forward options to challenge both Brighton and Real Madrid's backlines which will likely see Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang be an option from the bench due to him being ineligible against the latter.
With a variety of wide options, the Blues' caretaker boss may look to try more of his players with January signings Madueke and Mykhailo Mudryk in contention to start.
Predicted Chelsea XI: Kepa; James, Silva, Badiashile, Chilwell; Kante, Fernandez, Mount; Madueke, Havertz, Mudryk.
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