Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino will be working with the same group of players for Friday's FA Cup fourth-round clash with Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge.

The Blues stormed into the EFL Cup final thanks to a 6-1 semi-final second-leg success over Middlesbrough on Tuesday evening, where no players left the pitch with any physical concerns.

However, all of Christopher Nkunku (hip), Lesley Ugochukwu (hamstring), Marc Cucurella (ankle), Robert Sanchez (knee), Wesley Fofana (ACL), Romeo Lavia (thigh), Malo Gusto (unspecified) and Reece James (thigh) remain out, while Nicolas Jackson is gearing up for the Africa Cup of Nations knockout rounds with Senegal.

Ben Chilwell was able to complete 65 minutes of the crushing of Middlesbrough, his first start in any competition since September, but Pochettino has admitted that he may have to go down the sensible route and bench the left-back here.

As a result, Axel Disasi and Levi Colwill ought to undertake their full-back duties in front of Dorde Petrovic, as Thiago Silva and Benoit Badiashile pair up in the heart of the backline.

Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo's midfield spots should be under no threat, but Pochettino will certainly be tempted to draft Conor Gallagher back into the XI, and the same can be said for Noni Madueke following his late goal against Boro.

Mykhaylo Mudryk - who was taken off for Madueke at half time on Wednesday - will likely be demoted to the dugout, and Raheem Sterling could also find himself among the substitutes if Gallagher wins the fitness battle to join Cole Palmer and Armando Broja in the final third.

Chelsea possible starting lineup:
Petrovic; Disasi, Badiashile, Silva, Colwill; Caicedo, Fernandez; Madueke, Gallagher, Palmer; Broja