Chelsea assistant coach Steve Holland has explained the omission of key players Thibaut Courtois and Gary Cahill from the starting XI for their Premier League game against Newcastle United.

Petr Cech and Kurt Zouma instead began the match at Stamford Bridge on Saturday afternoon, which the Blues won 2-0 thanks to goals from Oscar and Diego Costa.

Holland told BBC Sport after the game: "It was something that Thibaut picked up in the game against Tottenham. If it had been vital to play he could but when we had Petr Cech as a replacement it was a no-brainer.

"Dropped is not a word we would use [about Cahill]. It's a long, long season and we have a big squad of players. We get criticism for not giving young guys a go but I don't think Kurt Zouma put a foot wrong.

"A 20-year-old making his first league start, and if he carries on playing like that it won't be his last either."

Chelsea sit two points clear of Manchester City at the top of the Premier League table.