Chelsea could be without as many as 11 players for Saturday's FA Cup semi-final showdown with holders Manchester City at Wembley Stadium.
Wesley Fofana (knee), Romeo Lavia (thigh), Reece James, Lesley Ugochukwu (both hamstring) and Levi Colwill (toe) all remain unavailable for selection due to injury, while young midfielder Cesare Casadei is cup-tied after representing Leicester City on loan earlier this season.
Raheem Sterling and Robert Sanchez both missed Chelsea's thumping 6-0 Premier League win over Everton last Monday through illness, but the Blues duo should be fit to return to the matchday squad on Saturday, while Axel Disasi, Enzo Fernandez (both unspecified) and Christopher Nkunku (hamstring) will be assessed ahead of kickoff, the latter of whom has returned to partial team training.
Mauricio Pochettino will consider recalling left-back Ben Chilwell to his starting lineup at the expense of Marc Cucurella, while the potential absence of Disasi could see Trevoh Chalobah and Benoit Badiashile battle for a start in central defence alongside Thiago Silva.
Conor Gallagher moved into a slightly deeper midfield role alongside Moises Caicedo in the absence of Fernandez against Everton last time out. However, the former is expected to move into a more advanced midfield position if Fernandez is deemed fit to return to the first XI.
Former Man City man Cole Palmer starred for Chelsea in the number 10 role against Everton, scoring four goals to take his impressive goal tally in all competitions to 25. The 21-year-old could continue in the same position on Saturday, but he may move over to the right side of attack if Gallagher starts further forward.
Pochettino has opted against punishing either Noni Madueke or Nicolas Jackson following their penalty spat with Palmer against Everton, and the Blues pair will be in contention to start in attack along with Mykhaylo Mudryk.
Chelsea possible starting lineup: Petrovic; Gusto, Chalobah, Silva, Chilwell; Caicedo, Fernandez; Palmer, Gallagher, Sterling; Jackson
> Click here to see how Manchester City could line up for this contest
Oliver Thomas
