Raheem Sterling is among the players omitted from Chelsea’s initial squad list for their Uefa Conference League play-off meeting with Servette this week.
The Blues welcome the Swiss side to Stamford Bridge on Thursday night for the opening instalment of a two-game tie that will determine who progresses through to the group stage in European football’s tertiary club competition.
Chelsea’s 21-man squad ‘A’ list for that match has now been confirmed on the official Uefa Conference League website, with Sterling among the most high-profile omissions - as also reported by both the BBC and Sky Sports.
The England forward was also omitted entirely from new manager Enzo Maresca’s matchday squad for the first Premier League contest of the season against former club Manchester City on Sunday, leading the player’s camp to release an extraordinary public statement in which they said they were seeking swift clarity on his future.
Such an episode has thrown Sterling’s Chelsea future into significant doubt as the club offer him elsewhere and look to trim their bloated squad, with Serie A giants Juventus having lodged an enquiry for his services before the summer transfer deadline amid rival interest from clubs in Saudi Arabia.
The 29-year-old - who has three years left to run on his current Chelsea contract - will also play no part against Servette on Thursday, having been left off the squad list.
Also absent is Ben Chilwell, whom Maresca has already said publicly that it would be better to find another club in order to get more regular playing time.
There is also no Wesley Fofana, who played 90 minutes in central defence alongside Levi Colwill in the 2-0 home defeat by reigning champions City, on the initial A list or Tosin Adarabioyo, Chelsea’s free-agent summer signing following his exit from Fulham.
Colwill is also not on the initial ‘A’ list, which can be altered after the Servette tie if Chelsea progress, but as reported by the BBC he is expected to be included on a ‘B’ list set to be confirmed by Chelsea on Wednesday.
One name who does feature is captain Reece James, who missed the City game due to a combination of a domestic suspension carried over from the end of last season and another minor hamstring injury sustained in the pre-season defeat by Real Madrid in the United States earlier this month. It remains to be seen if he will be fit enough to feature against Servette.
Likewise fellow defender Axel Disasi, who was not part of the squad against City after undergoing a hernia operation over the summer and not playing at all during pre-season.
Joao Felix will not sign in time to feature for Chelsea, who have now agreed a permanent return to Stamford Bridge for their former loanee worth around £42million in a move that will finally allow Conor Gallagher to complete his long-awaited switch to Atletico Madrid.
Chelsea squad ‘A’ list for Servette clash
Goalkeepers: Robert Sanchez, Filip Jorgensen, Marcus Bettinelli
Defenders: Axel Disasi, Marc Cucurella, Benoit Badiashile, Reece James, Malo Gusto, Renato Veiga
Midfielders: Enzo Fernandez, Noni Madueke, Carney Chukwuemeka, Cole Palmer, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Moises Caicedo, Romeo Lavia
Forwards: Mykhailo Mudryk, Nicolas Jackson, Pedro Neto, Marc Guiu, Christopher Nkunku
