Chelsea will be without at least four injured players for Saturday's Premier League encounter against basement club Southampton at Stamford Bridge.

N'Golo Kante (hamstring), Christian Pulisic, Armando Broja (both knee) and Edouard Mendy (finger) all remain sidelined as they continue to recover from long-term problems.

Raheem Sterling has missed the last two matches with a minor knee issue and remains doubtful, while Ben Chilwell came off midway through the second half of Chelsea's 1-0 Champions League defeat at Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday with a knock, but the left-back is expected to recover in time for Saturday.

Despite defeat in Germany, Graham Potter was boosted by the return of Mateo Kovacic, Wesley Fofana and Denis Zakaria who all recovered from injury to be named in the matchday squad against Dortmund; all three players were unused substitutes but they should be in contention to start against Southampton.

Meanwhile, Chelsea will be able to welcome back Benoit Badiashile, Noni Madueke, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and David Datro Fofana to the first-team fold after being left out of Potter's Champions League squad, and the former will likely replace Kalidou Koulibaly at centre-back to partner Thiago Silva.

Marc Cucurella could return at left-back if Chilwell is not deemed fully fit to start, while in midfield, Ruben Loftus-Cheek will be hoping to start his third successive game alongside record signing Enzo Fernandez.

Joao Felix, who scored in the 1-1 Premier League draw with West Ham United last weekend, is poised to retain his place as the number 10 behind Kai Havertz, while Madueke could replace Hakim Ziyech on the right wing, with Mykhaylo Mudryk keeping his place on the opposite flank.

Chelsea possible starting lineup: Arrizabalaga; James, Thiago Silva, Badiashile, Cucurella; Loftus-Cheek, Fernandez; Madueke, Felix, Mudryk; Havertz body check tags ::