Chelsea interim manager Frank Lampard is once again working around an unenviable injury list ahead of Thursday's Premier League clash with Manchester United at Old Trafford.
The Blues welcomed Kalidou Koulibaly back from a thigh concern in Sunday's 1-0 defeat to Manchester City, but fellow defender Benoit Badiashile is reported to be facing a few months out with a groin injury sustained in training.
Badiashile joins Mateo Kovacic (unspecified), Mason Mount (pelvic), Ben Chilwell (thigh), Armando Broja (knee), N'Golo Kante (groin), Marc Cucurella (thigh), Marcus Bettinelli (unspecified) and Reece James (thigh) in the infirmary, but Joao Felix has recovered from a small problem.
Having briefly opened the door for Edouard Mendy to return in between the sticks, Lampard reverted to Kepa Arrizabalaga as his number one for the clash with Man City, and the Spaniard ought to keep his place at Old Trafford.
Despite the defeat, Lampard was satisfied with his side's display against the champions, and an unchanged backline of Trevoh Chalobah, Thiago Silva and Wesley Fofana could therefore protect Kepa as Koulibaly is gradually reintroduced.
Lewis Hall was one of Chelsea's brightest players at the Etihad Stadium and should be given the nod on the left again, while James's injury means that Cesar Azpilicueta's spot on the right should be safe.
Having been blocked from linking up with the England squad for the Under-20 World Cup, Carney Chukwuemeka was only on the bench against Man City, where Enzo Fernandez and Ruben Loftus-Cheek paired up in the middle.
Despite the expectation that Loftus-Cheek will leave the club this summer, he may fend off Chukwuemeka for another starting role here, and the same can be said for Conor Gallagher in a more advanced position.
In fact, a completely unaltered XI could also see Raheem Sterling and Kai Havertz continue as a two-man strikeforce, forcing Mykhaylo Mudryk and Noni Madueke to accept substitute cameos once again.
Chelsea possible starting lineup: Kepa; Chalobah, Silva, Fofana; Azpilicueta, Fernandez, Loftus-Cheek, Hall; Gallagher; Havertz, Sterling
> Click here to see how Man United could line up for this match body check tags ::
