Chelsea FC XI vs AFC Wimbledon: Confirmed team news, predicted lineup and injury
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auricio Pochettino has promised to hand minutes to a number of youngsters as Chelsea take on AFC Wimbledon in the Carabao Cup tonight – but among them won’t be new signing Djordje Petrovic.
Petrovic joined Chelsea in a £14million deal from New England Revolution on Sunday but did not receive Football Association clearance to play in time. Robert Sanchez will continue in goal as a result.
Pochettino therefore has 11 players unavailable to face the League Two minnows, including fellow summer signing Romeo Lavia who still lacks match fitness.
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The problems offer a chance for Chelsea’s younger players to impress, with Lesley Ugochukwu in line to make his first start since his £23million move from Rennes this summer.
Noni Madueke and Ian Maatsen could also start under Pochettino for the first time as he plans to rest some players.
Pochettino confirmed at his pre-match press conference that “four or five” players aged between “16 and 17” could be involved with Mason Burstow, Diego Moreira, Eddie Beach and Bashir Humphreys on the bench for Chelsea’s 3-0 win over Luton on Friday night.
Marc Cucurella – a target for Manchester United before Friday’s transfer deadline – could come in for 38-year-old Thiago Silva as Malo Gusto, Axel Disasi, Levi Colwill complete the back four.
Ugochukwu, Maatsen and Conor Gallagher could be the midfield three with Madueke, Raheem Sterling and Nicolas Jackson in attack.
Predicted Chelsea XI: Sanchez; Gusto, Disasi, Colwill, Cucurella; Ugochukwu, Gallagher; Madueke, Maatsen, Sterling; Jackson
Injuries: Mudryk, Chukwuemeka, Nkunku, James, Chalobah, W. Fofana, Broja, Badiashile, Bettinelli
Doubts: Lavia
Time and date: 7.45pm BST on Wednesday, August 30, 2023
Venue: Stamford Bridge
Read More: Chelsea FC XI vs AFC Wimbledon: Confirmed team news, predicted lineup and injury 2023-08-30 16:25:34