Chelsea are set to be without up to 10 players for Saturday's FA Cup third-round tie against Preston North End at Stamford Bridge.

Reece James, Ben Chilwell, Trevoh Chalobah, Romeo Lavia (all thigh), Wesley Fofana, Robert Sanchez, Carney Chukwuemeka (all knee), Marc Cucurella (ankle) and Lesley Ugochukwu (muscle) are all nursing injuries.

Nicolas Jackson is also absent as he has joined up with the Senegal squad for the Africa Cup of Nations, so Armando Broja is poised to retain his place as the central striker this weekend.

Mauricio Pochettino fielded a relatively strong starting lineup for an EFL Cup clash against Blackburn Rovers earlier this season, but the Chelsea boss may look to freshen up his side in a few positions against fellow Championship side Preston.

Academy graduate Alfie Gilchrist has made fleeting substitute appearances in Chelsea's last two Premier League games and he could be handed a start at either centre-back or right-back on Saturday, while Ian Maatsen will be pushing to start as either a full-back or a wing-back.

Enzo Fernandez managed to shake off a hernia issue to feature as a second-half substitute in the 3-2 win at Luton Town last weekend, and the midfielder could be named in the first XI if Pochettino decided to rest one of Conor Gallagher or Moises Caicedo.

Christopher Nkunku, Raheem Sterling and Mykhaylo Mudryk all began as substitutes last time out and could be recalled, while in-form midfielder Cole Palmer – who scored twice and provided an assist against Luton – is in contention to retain his spot as a number 10, but could make way for one of the former three.

Chelsea possible starting lineup: Petrovic; Gusto, Gilchrist, Silva, Colwill; Fernandez, Gallagher; Madueke, Nkunku, Sterling; Broja